FRHD 3060 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Civic Engagement, Longitudinal Study, Population Ageing

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Family Relations and Human Development
• Course: FRHD 3060
• Professor: Jacobi Elliott

Document Summary

Civic engagement in the political process is another form of active and productive aging. As the older population has increased in size and with each cohort that enters later life being better educated, older adults report being involved as voters, as political candidates, as members of political organizations, and as political activists. Much of the increased involvement among older people is accounted for by a significant increase in political interest and political activity among women. Changes in political interest or attitudes across the life course are due to a combination of maturational change, cohort effects and period effects. Younger people are more concerned with issues such as tuition fees, unemployment, the environment, child-care support, women"s rights, abortion, and gay rights. Older age cohorts tend to be more concerned with inflation, health care, pension benefits, and taxes. Whether political views of younger cohorts persist or change across the life course remains to be confirmed by longitudinal studies.