Depiction of Childlessness in Lithuanian Mass Media from 2011–2016: A Catalyst of Modernization

Demographic research shows the increase of childlessness rates among women born in 1970 in comparison to those born in 1953 in Lithuania, but cultural aspects influencing reproductive behavior are under-explored. To our knowledge, the representation of childlessness in the Lithuanian mass media has not been studied yet. The aim of this article is to analyze how childlessness is depicted in the most popular mass media from 2011-2016. Our research revealed that the discourse of childlessness is undeveloped, and the depiction of voluntary childlessness is dominating. It is portrayed favorably as a modern behavior, space for which consolidation is created challenging traditional social norms. Thus Lithuanian media appear as a part of global media that promotes imitative trends of social change

Lonely societies: low trust societies? Further explanations for national variations in loneliness among older Europeans

Cross-national studies in Europe reveal sharp regional differences in the prevalence of loneliness among older adults, with the highest prevalence of loneliness in Eastern European countries. In this study, we investigate an alternative explanation for differences in loneliness prevalence based on differences in trust. Many of the Eastern European countries were ruled by totalitarian regimes that undermined people’s trust in other people and in the system, potentially leading to higher loneliness prevalence. Data are derived from the sixth round of the European Social Survey conducted in 2012, based on 12,042 respondents, of which 4827 live in post-totalitarian countries and 7215 in other European countries and Israel. We estimate a path model with trust in people, trust in the system, and social engagement included as latent variables and one dichotomous outcome (lonely or not). We control for age, gender, health limitations, marital status, income adequacy, and education. The results reveal that loneliness is partly constructed by the social–cultural and historical–political characteristics of the countries in which people live. The higher prevalence of loneliness in the Eastern-European post-totalitarian countries can be linked to a low level of trust in other people through social disengagement. Considering the role of trust in the creation of individuals feelings of loneliness contributes to the understanding of country variations in loneliness and opens a new perspective in loneliness research and the development of policies aimed at reducing loneliness

Depiction of Childlessness in Lithuanian Mass Media from 2011–2016: A Catalyst of Modernization

Demographic research shows the increase of childlessness rates among women born in 1970 in comparison to those born in 1953 in Lithuania, but cultural aspects influencing reproductive behavior are under-explored. To our knowledge, the representation of childlessness in the Lithuanian mass media has not been studied yet. The aim of this article is to analyze how childlessness is depicted in the most popular mass media from 2011-2016. Our research revealed that the discourse of childlessness is undeveloped, and the depiction of voluntary childlessness is dominating. It is portrayed favorably as a modern behavior, space for which consolidation is created challenging traditional social norms. Thus Lithuanian media appear as a part of global media that promotes imitative trends of social change

Barriers of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): Narratives of Older Users and Their Facilitators

As world populations are ageing, more attention is given to the social and digital inclusion of older people. The level of ICT non-use among older adults in Lithuania is significantly higher than in Western European countries. In 2023, 29% of the Lithuanian population aged 65–74 had never used the Internet, while in most Western countries, this share varied between 2 and 8%. Insufficient research efforts in Eastern and Central Europe prompted this study to explore the barriers to ICT use in Lithuania based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with older users (N=36) and their facilitators (N=9). The difficulties revealed by the study are divided into three groups. First, the participants found it difficult to adjust to the technologies as a unique system (to understand its specific principles of functioning, to deal with information on English and technical language). Second, their psychological relationship with the unknown and complex subject have caused some problems, as they faced a spectrum of fears, insecurity, the shame of not knowing, the experience of one’s limitations, lack of patience. Third, changes that informants relate to old age like diminishing motivation to engage with innovations, learning difficulties, and bodily changes (sensitivity of fingers, weakening sight and memory) constituted additional barriers for older ICT users. To overcome the barriers, access to mentoring and consulting would be beneficial