Non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents in rural civic livability initiatives

Hiska Ubels (First author), Bettina Bock, Tialda Haartsen

Onderzoeksoutput: ArticleAcademicpeer review

Samenvatting

In the context of public budget cuts and rural areas facing depopulation and aging, local governments increasingly encourage citizen engagement in addressing local livability issues. This paper examines the non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents (45+ years old) in civic initiatives that intend to improve the livability of their community. We focus on residents of depopulating rural areas in the North Netherlands. We compare their engagement with the behavior of residents in other, not depopulating, rural areas, and urban areas. Using logistic statistical analyses, we found that the majority of the aging residents did not engage in civic livability initiatives during the past two years, and one-third of this group had no intention to do so in the future. In all areas, the main reasons for non-engagement were that residents had other priorities, felt not capable of engaging, or felt that the responsibility for local livability belonged to the local government. Furthermore, it appeared that non-engagement was predominantly explained by the unwillingness to engage, rather than by specific motivations or lacking abilities.
Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)730-756
TijdschriftRural Sociology
Volume85
Nummer van het tijdschrift3
DOI's
StatusPublished - 10 jan. 2020

Keywords

  • burgerinitiatieven
  • ouderen

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents in rural civic livability initiatives'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit