Exploring keys to understanding the challenges of social participation in old age from a generational baby boomer perspective: a scoping review

With advanced social and civil rights, baby boomers reach older age with better health, and call for the recognition of new forms of social participation. Although essential, there is a lack of integrated knowledge about the social participation expectations of this cohort. Such knowledge is important to better guide the development of innovative interventions in anticipation of their social participation needs. This study thus aimed to integrate the knowledge about social participation of the baby boomer generation in old age. Based on the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review of the literature (2006–2024) was carried out in 12 databases with 22 keywords, yielding a total of 9,171 records. Of these 64 studies were selected with 29 qualitative [45.3%], 42 published after 2014 [65.6%], and 36 from North America [56.3%]. Three main themes were identified. Firstly, regarding generational characteristics, the literature highlights the importance of considering baby boomers’ particularities related to their socio-historical conditioning factors and the impact on their interests and motivations. Secondly, regarding forms of participation, research participants reported the need for new, more active forms of social engagement with an impact on the communities. Thirdly, in relation to organisations and services of older adults, the requirement of integrating baby boomers as agents of change in the definition of current policies and services was also highlighted. Throughout several international contexts, the social participation of this generation requires gerontology with a critical approach that addresses the challenges of diversity, new meanings of participation, and the convenience of services and policies. This paper contributes to the identification of the gap in the literature, from a foresight perspective that allows anticipating the needs of an ageing population and better guiding future research.