Social Engagement as a Generative Act and Contribution to a Good Life in Old Age - General Medical Support through Social Prescribing

Subproject E within the DFG Research Group (5022) "Medicine, Time and the Good Life" - 2nd Funding Phase

Background

The project "Social Engagement as a Generative Act and Contribution to a Good Life in Old Age - General Medical Support through Social Prescribing" is a subproject of the DFG Research Group "Medicine, Time and the Good Life". The research group started its second funding phase in May 2025, building on the findings and open questions of the first funding phase. 

Project Objective/Hypothesis

In the first funding period of the research group, the general practice subproject investigated the relationship between medicine and the time structure of a good life from the perspective of older people (over 75 years) and their medical and nursing caregivers . Central importance was given to social integration in the sense of being needed, whether as an important resource in the background of medical care or as a source of meaning and satisfaction in old age in general and thus as an aspect of a good life. Regarding this, various types of social engagement proved to be specific opportunities, which will be taken up and further investigated in the second funding period. The focus is on social engagement as a form of generativity in old age and its potential impact on health and a good life. This is to be promoted through general medical care using the approach of Social Prescribing, which has not yet been established in care in Germany. Here, non-pharmacological interventions are prescribed to improve health and well-being, which can also encompass various levels of social engagement. The goal of the project is to investigate the meaning of social engagement as a generative act for a good life in old age. The connections between social engagement and health as well as the potentials and challenges of Social Prescribing in general medicine will also be considered. Based on this, a practice guide for social engagement and health promotion through Social Prescribing will be developed, which can be used to identify suitable patients and potential barriers to Social Prescribing.

Study Design and Methodology

Methodologically, the project will build on the previously successfully used focus groups. These consist of socially engaged individuals in the transition phase to retirement as well as already retired people over 60 years, who, for example, are active in self-help groups, engage in voluntary work in hospitals, care facilities, hospices or other charitable institutions, or participate in associations, clubs, organizations, church communities or other voluntary structures. To capture the hurdles and disadvantages of such engagement, additional focus groups will be conducted with the same target group, which have given up social engagement. As a second case contrast, further focus groups will be conducted with younger chronically ill individuals who, due to their illness, cannot participate in working life and are thus in a different biographical phase, but face similar challenges regarding structuring of daily routines, engaging in meaningful activities and social integration. As in the first funding period, the perspective of the professionals will also be taken into account, as they play a key role in Social Prescribing in mediating possible forms of engagement. These consist of general practitioners, social workers and representatives of local association, club and civil society structures.

Participating Institutions

• Abteilung für Ethik in der Medizin, Universität Oldenburg (Koordination)
• Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
• Institut für deutsche Literatur, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Institut für Geschichte der Medizin und Ethik in der Medizin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen
• Med. Klinik m.S. Psychosomatik, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
• Professur für Philosophie mit Schwerpunkt Praktische Philosophie, Universität Göttingen

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (funding period: 2025 - 2029)