Civic Engagement in Later Life: A Multilevel European Analysis

Civic engagement in later life is shaped not only by individual characteristics but also by neighborhood and societal contexts, though these levels are rarely examined together. Guided by a socio-ecological framework, this study investigates how neighborhood conditions and country-level indicators, specifically the Human Development Index (HDI) and income inequality (Gini), are associated with civic engagement in later life. The data included responses from 9,468 individuals aged 65+ across 33 European countries. Four dimensions of civic engagement were examined: formal volunteering, informal caregiving, associational engagement, and political engagement. Binary two-level regression models showed that more accessible neighborhood amenities were positively associated with all forms of engagement, while neighborhood problems had negative effects. HDI was linked to higher engagement overall and amplified the enabling effects of neighborhood amenities on associational and political engagement, highlighting the interactive nature of national and local contexts in shaping civic engagement.