Encouraging older people to continue participating in civil society organizations: A systematic review and conceptual framework

Abstract

The participation of older people in civil society organizations has received considerable attention in recent years due to its potential for contributing to the health and well-being of the individuals concerned and also for creating social and economic benefits for the community. However, much of the previous literature has focused on human and social capital predictors of participation and on individuals’ motivations for joining organizations or the barriers to their entry; far less attention has been paid to the reasons why people stop participating once they have begun. The study of this issue is fundamental for the sustainability of organizations in the future, as it will allow the design of strategies to promote continued participation among older people. In this chapter, we revise the literature on factors associated with the retention of older people in civil society organizations. We propose a conceptual framework to understand these factors, which classifies them as means-related, motives-related, or organizational and opportunity context-related. The implications for retention theory and practice are discussed in the light of the results.