Dissertation: Rethinking Old Age Through Participation in Social Activities

What did you study?

In my dissertation, I explore how old age is understood in Russia in social policy initiatives aimed at promoting social participation and in social activities for older adults. The study draws on policy document analysis, expert interviews, an online survey of older adults involved in three social projects, and my own database of social activities from different Russian regions.

What were the results of your study or what is its main finding?

The dissertation shows that social activities offer a valuable way to understand old age. I define social activities as group activities shaped by older adults’ interests and needs. These activities may support physical, emotional, and mental well-being (e.g., sports, handicrafts, and art) and may also benefit society (e.g., volunteering and intergenerational interactions). 

Looking at old age through the lens of social activities reveals multiple understandings of old age. In policy discourse, old age is presented as a period of life in which older adults have opportunities to achieve active longevity through participation in social activities, employment, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. At the organisational level, it is associated with opportunities to engage in meaningful activities and explore different social roles. For participants in social activities, old age is linked to opportunities for socialising, improving family relationships, contributing to cultural preservation, changing one’s lifestyle, and feeling happier and needed.

The dissertation also proposes a typology of social activities, identifying 11 distinct types with related subtypes. 

How can the results be applied? What new insights did the research contribute to the topic?

The findings can support the further development of social participation among older adults and draw attention to the diversity of older people’s needs, interests, and cultural contexts. The dissertation proposes several principles for the development of social participation and social activities, encourages discussion of the concept of socially engaged ageing, and outlines directions for further research. Moreover, it suggests that participation in social activities may foster more positive expectations and perceptions of old age. 

The dissertation has been published as part of the JYU Dissertations series of the University of Jyväskylä and is available here.

MSc Liliya Martynova’s doctoral dissertation in social and public policy, “Social Activities for Older Adults and Understandings of Old Age in Russia”, will be examined on Saturday, 25 April 2026, at 12:00 in room S212 of the Seminarium building at the University of Jyväskylä.

Opponent: Professor Elisa Tiilikainen (University of Eastern Finland)

Custos: Professor Teppo Kröger (University of Jyväskylä)

Language of the examination: English