There is currently a global trend of population ageing. This may pose many related challenges for future economies and societies - for instance, in terms of the sustainability of health and social care and of social security systems. Active ageing is one of the answers available to address these challenges at various levels. At the micro level, active ageing may benefit older individuals in terms of physical and/or mental health, but also economically, when people can experience longer rewarding lives. The meso level consists of settings that do not contain the individual directly, but still affect the individual. It represents physical and social environments where social interactions take place and is related to active ageing possibilities and constraints. The macro societal level may benefit from active ageing in terms of maintained or increased productivity, and savings in public spending (pension and health). All this is influenced by aspects linked to the welfare regime and so the country of residence with the embedded culture, laws, values, resources, policies, etc.

The concept of active ageing falls in the area of gerontology studies, and specifically in that of social gerontology, being oriented to the improvement of the quality of life of older people. Active ageing does not only refer to employment but to wider social participation in society, enhancing the social integration of older adults, providing them with resources for self-realisation in old age in the way as they wish and can perform.

This Special Issue aims at collecting submissions concerning qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed-methods studies, as well as critical reviews, investigating active ageing in general and/or single domains, including the relationship between active ageing areas in different life stages (e.g. before retirement, during the retirement transition, after retirement). It aims to attract studies at different levels: micro (individuals), meso (organisations/neighbourhoods), and/or macro (institutional and governmental policy) levels. Although single country studies are possible, multi-country comparative studies will be particularly welcome. Original research and review articles are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Work in the labour market
• Volunteering
• Grandparenting
• Caring for older adults
• Social participation
• Educational activities
• Sports
• Leisure activities
• Gardening and social farming
• Cross-cutting aspects, including gender, intergenerational relationships, transportation, health conditions, place of living, education and income