Gryshyna T. Social inclusion of senior citizens: comparative analysis of Ukrainian and European societies.

The thesis is aimed to identify the peculiarities of senior citizens' social inclusion in Ukrainian society in comparative context. Theoretical interpretation of social inclusion concept is specified as a multi-dimensional process of group belonging to social mainstream at all levels of social organization. It was defined that: at the individual level social inclusion is a result of personal social activity, at the group level it is a result of belonging to social networks, at the society level it is a result of social institution supporting. The empirical triangulate analysis is conducted. It includes statistical analyze of European Social Survey data (ESS, 2010/11), analyze of Ukrainian and EU statistical data, qualitative empirical research of senior citizens representatives. It is received the empirical approval of differences between European countries in social inclusion, which depends on current pension system. Especially, the most positive state of social inclusion is inherent to Scandinavian countries among European countries. While the lowest chances for social inclusion for mainstream is attributable for senior citizens in post-soviet countries (are evident on the empirical examples of Poland and Ukraine).