Social functioning includes engagement in social networks (both kin and non-kin), participation in society (such as work, volunteering, and informal caregiving), and its impact on well-being, health, and care use. This is framed within the broader societal context of individualization, changing family structures, increasing ICT usage, and a retreating welfare state. Differences are examined based on, among others, socioeconomic status, gender, and migration background.
SoCA utilizes a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data, including the 30-year Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) and additional datasets. Using cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cohort-sequential research designs, and mixed methods it analyzes various dimensions of social functioning. SoCA provides essential insights to anticipate the challenges of an aging population and the implications of a retreating welfare state.
