Researcher groups projects (Research Council of Lithuania)
Ethnicity and social (in)justice in the urban spaces: investigation of historical and comtemporary processes (the cases of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda)
Project team: dr. Kristina Šliavaitė (leader), dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, dr. Andrius Marcinkevičius, dokt. Kornelija Čepytė
Duration: 2024 09 01 – 2027 08 31
Source of funding: Research Council of Lithuania
Summary
The project will investigate the historical and contemporary processes of socio-ethnic differentiation and segregation in major Lithuanian cities. The research is planned to be carried out in several directions: a) analysis of scientific literature, published sources (censuses, press) and archival (historical) sources, b) analysis of social, educational, cultural, and crime protection policies and measures of specific urban districts, c) field research by conducting interviews and observations in targeted districts of the cities of Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda, which are characterised by ethnic and social diversity of the population. The project aims to find out whether and how residents of urban neighbourhoods of different generations and nationalities differentiate between urban neighbourhoods on the basis of ethnic, cultural and social criteria and access to services. More broadly, the study will reveal whether and how urban spaces are seen and experienced as socially, economically and ethnically differentiated and thus determining the social mobility opportunities of their inhabitants.
Employment challenges and resilience in the labor market: social and individual resources and directions for their strengthening
Project team: dr. Laima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė (leader), dr. Arūnas Pocius, dr. Dalia Bagdžiūnienė, dr. Irena Blaževičė, dokt. Emilija Webster
Duration: 2024 09 01 – 2027 08 31
Source of funding: Research Council of Lithuania
Summary
Recent years have marked significant changes in areas of social life, including the business environment and employment. Therefore, it is relevant to analyze employment challenges in the post-crisis labor market, to examine not only the effectiveness of the assistance provided by state institutions, but also the job seekers‘ and employed persons‘ resilience in the modern labor market. Resilience is defined as person’s ability to adapt to changes and difficult situations related to real or potential job loss, maintain emotional balance and actively apply constructive coping strategies. Research on resilience in the labor market is a new, relevant field from a theoretical and practical point of view, which is still poorly developed in Lithuania and other countries. This project is the first study of resilience in the labor market in Lithuania, taking into account the employment status and the specifics of social and individual resources in samples of unemployed and employed people. The aim of the project is to examine employment challenges, the social and individual resources of the resilience in the labor market of unemployed and employed persons, the significance of the resilience and directions for its strengthening. Main objectives: to perform a complex analysis of the Lithuanian labor market situation and changes; identify employment challenges; prepare research model; carry out two representative surveys of the unemployed and the employed persons; reveal the resources of resilience in the labor market taking into account the employment status. The results will complement the studies of resilience in the labor market carried out by Lithuanian and foreign researchers, will highlight the theoretical contribution and directions for future research. Empirically revealed factors of the resilience in the labour market of unemployed and employed persons will have an applied value in implementing employment policy and overcoming challenges in the modern labor market.
Ensuring Housing Needs: Challenges and Prospects in Lithuania
Project leader: dr. Jolanta Aidukaite
Duration: 2023 04 01 – 2026 03 31
Project team: dr. Kristina Senkuviene and dr. Ruta Ubareviciene.
Summary:
The aim of the project is to investigate the housing needs in Lithuania through the prism of housing as a social right, including the expectations of the population and the preferences of housing policy makers. Housing need is understood as a discrepancy between existing housing and desired housing. The need for housing includes all housing estates (own housing, public / social housing, rented housing in the private market). Housing as a social right is understood as the state’s obligation to provide a decent housing to every citizen / resident, regardless of their income. However, housing is increasingly perceived as an investment and commodity, and the state’s responsibility to guarantee decent housing for everyone, regardless of income, is decreasing. Therefore, questions arise: How can we guarantee everyone’s right to a decent home? What type of housing do Lithuanian residents most need? What is the demand for social/public housing as well as private rental housing? The answers to these questions will allow us to predict long-term housing needs and find appropriate solutions to social problems in the area of housing.
Ethnic, national and transnational identities and geopolitical atitudes of third-country nationals in Lithuania in the context of the war in Ukraine
Project leader: dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė
Duration: 2023 04 03 – 2026 03 31
No. S-MIP-23-39, Research Council Lithuania
Project partner is Vilnius University’s Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies
Project team: dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė (Institute of Sociology LCSS), specialist Janina Koliato (Institute of Sociology LCSS), dr. Kristina Garalytė (Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies, VU), dr. Kristina Šliavaitė (Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies, VU).
Summary:
This project aims to research the nexus between identities (ethnic, national, transnational) and geopolitical atitudes of migrants in Lithuania from Ukraine, Belarus and India in the context of the war in Ukraine. We understand the war in Ukraine as a long-term process that began in 2014, including its causes, course and consequences that will likely span long atier the war will be over. We also view the war in Ukraine not merely as a regional, but also as a global event, creating food, energy and financial crises, restructuring the world’s geopolitical relations and directly affecting the lives and identities of people in different regions, directly or indirectly affected by war. The three groups of migrants (Ukrainians, Belarusians and Indians) were chosen for research due to their different proximity to the war and their home countries’ differing positioning with regards to the war. The research will focus on ethnically and regionally diverse groups of migrants, whose geopolitical atitudes are also likely to be significantly different and possibly even conflicting. Analyzing and comparing the narratives of migrants will allow us to understand how their identifications and geopolitical atitudes are affected by the immigration experiences in Lithuania in the context of the war in Ukraine. This will enable us to understand the points of contact and conflict among migrants in their perception of war and national belonging. The research is innovative because it explains underexplored processes of how national identities and geopolitical atitudes interact at the micro level. This research can be relevant in seeking a beter migrants’ integration into Lithuanian society.
(Not) to Become a Father: Lithuanian Men’s Procreative Behavior and Experiences of Childlessness
Head of the research team: dr. D. Stumbrys
Duration: 2022 07 01 – 2024 06 30
No. P-MIP-22-286, Research Council Lithuania
Members of the research team: dr. Gražina Rapolienė, dr. Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė, Vaida Tretjakova, dr. Lina Šumskaitė.
Summary:
Topics of men’s procreative behavior and experiences of childlessness extremely rarely fall into the field of sociological research traditionally focused on women. This tendency is observed in both Lithuanian and foreign research. In Lithuania, several qualitative studies have been conducted on the topic of men’s procreative behavior and paternal identity, but they are not representative and are intended to examine only a few narrow aspects of this research field. There is a lack of data on male fertility both in Lithuania and in other countries. Data on the number and birth order of men’s biological children are not always recorded and are therefore considered inaccurate. The aim of this project is to assess men’s procreative behavior in Lithuania, identify individual, family and socio-cultural factors that determine it, and reveal subjective experiences of male childlessness. The project will use a) publicly available data of the European Social Survey (2018) to determine the population’s attitudes towards childless men; b) representative data of the Generations and Family Survey (2019), which will allow to analyze middle-generation male partnership and childbirth events, procreational desires and intentions, family gender roles; c) and the data of the qualitative study on male childlessness conducted for the first time in Lithuania, which will allow to reveal the subjective experiences of male childlessness. This study will significantly contribute to the knowledge of the phenomenon in Lithuania, as well as to the international scientific discussions. The results of the project are especially important from a practical point of view – when considering pronatalist policy measures aimed at men.
Socio-economic factors of youth life chances differentiation in Lithuania
Project team: dr. Rūta Brazienė (leader), dr. Laima Okunevičiūtė Nevarauskienė, dr. Arūnas Pocius, Sonata Vyšniauskienė, Justina Krauledaitė
Project duration: from April 1, 2022, to October 31, 2024
Funding source: Research Council of Lithuania (no. P-MIP-22-332)
Summary
Project “Socioeconomic Factors of Youth Life Chances’ Differentiation in Lithuania” is aimed at revealing the main social and economic factors, determining the differentiation of life chances of the 18-35 years old Lithuanian youth. For the implementation of the study of socio-economic factors of the differentiation of young people’s life chances, a multi-level theoretical research model is used. At the macro level, the model includes a complex analysis of structural, institutional, and cultural factors, and various economic and social indicators (GDP, unemployment rate, youth unemployment rate, etc.). At the mezzo level, the role of family and community is examined. At the micro level, the individual experiences and attitudes of young people are analysed. Expected results of the project. This scientific project will allow a comprehensive analysis of youth from the perspective of life chances, and reveal the distribution of life chances for young people in Lithuania. On the basis of the research results, the differentiation indexes of youth life at the macro level will be constructed, allowing to reveal diversity of youth life chances (in terms of age, gender, education, region, etc.). An innovative multidimensional theoretical model, integrating ideas from sociology, economics, social policy, psychology, etc. will allow revealing a complex picture of the differentiation of young people’s chances in Lithuania.
The results of this research will not only reveal the differentiation of young people’s life chances but will also allow to develop youth public policy recommendations and methodology for interested parties, which would enable more complex planning, solving, and improving the situation of young people at the national and regional level. The social benefit of the knowledge gained during the research and the formulated conclusions will be revealed in the formation of more effective youth policy measures and recommendations for public administration institutions. The results of the project will contribute to the formation and development of youth research in the Eastern and Central European regions. Dissemination results of the project. It is planned to publish an article in the journal, referred in the Scopus DB, to make at least four presentations at national and international scientific conferences, and to carry out a scientific seminar-discussion on the results of the project with relevant stakeholders.
Results
Publications
• Brazienė, R., Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė, L., Pocius, A., Vyšniauskienė, S., Krauledaitė, J. (2024). Housing Inequalities and Housing Provision for the Youth in Lithuania. Calitatea Vieții, 35(3), p. 1–16.
• Brazienė, R., Vyšniauskienė, S. (2023). Life Chances Differentiation in Lithuania: Subjective Attitudes of 18–35 Years Old Youth. Filosofija. Sociologija, 34(4), p. 372–381.
• Gruževskis, B., Pocius, A. (2022). Lietuvos jaunimo ir pagyvenusių žmonių padėties darbo rinkoje kaitos transformacijos: demografinis požiūris. Filosofija. Sociologija, 33(4), p. 372–381.
Research (survey) results
Kaip Lietuvos jaunimas vertina savo gyvenimiškas galimybes?
Peripheral regions in Lithuania: migration and local communities
Project leader: dr. Edikas Kriaučiūnas
Duration: 2021 09 01 – 2024 03 31
No. S-MIP-21-57
Project team: dr. Donatas Burneika, dr. Rūta Ubarevičienė, dr. Viktorija Baranauskienė
Summary:
The main idea of the research project is to discover the peculiarities of the impact of local social actors (various local communities and their leaders, etc.) on the development trajectories in peripheral regions in Lithuania, suffering from fast depopulation. The research is targeted to the revelation of the revelation of peripheral regions and their development trajectories. The analysis of impact of local leader and communities is the next step of the project. Though the depopulation of most peripheral rural areas of Lithuania, just like in other European countries, is inevitable, its consequences depend on the sociodemographic structure that emerges in declining regions. One of the most important factors that shape the appeal of specific peripheral regions are local communities. Revelation of these local differences is one of the tasks of the project. At present there is quite a lot of studies targeted to municipal or especially county and country levels, but little is done on the level, which is actual place of residence of people or every day space, where “everybody knows everybody”, where “face to face“ contacts are essential and quality of which actually is the most important for everyone’s life. Obviously one of the reasons of different success of different places is related to different activities of local actors and local communities first of all. Understanding the interrelation of newcomers and local communities, differently performing in quite similar general post-soviet social structures, is the second task. How local responses can withhold global and regional challenges in our societies is still uncertain. Understanding formation of communities and effective leadership is the third task. The main goal of the project is the determination of the impact of effective leadership at community level for the development trajectories of peripheral rural places in Lithuania.
Families of the past historical demography of the Lithuanian households and families in the middle of the 19th century
Project leader: prof. Aušra Maslauskaitė
Duration: 2021 04 01 – 2024 03 01
No. S-MIP-21-29
Summary:
The project aims to reveal the demographic, spatial, and economic characteristics of households and families in the middle of the 19th century Lithuania. Empirically the project is based on the unique demographic historical dataset derived from the 1847 inventories collected in tsarist Russia.
The outcomes of the project will significantly contribute to the field of the historical family demography, which is still underdeveloped in Lithuania. Moreover, the empirical evidence will make the contribution to the ongoing discussion on the demographic past of the family in the Baltic countries, the links between family nuclearization and modernization.
Inventories represent a very valuable piece of the historical demographic information, as they record personal, demographic data of the household members, their marital or kin relationships with the household head, and the economic characteristics of the households. Inventories were digitalized during the implementation of the international MOSAIC project, but so far, no systematic analysis of the data has been carried out. The format of the data provides the opportunity to apply the advanced techniques of the demographic analysis and to uncover the composition of the households and families, their demographic, economic characteristics, spatial patterns of the households.
The dissemination of the project results includes the publication of the four papers (two papers in the CA/WoS indexed international journals published, one – submitted and one paper published in the Lithuanian journal indexed in the international databases). Three presentations will be made in the international scientific conferences and one in the scientific conference in Lithuania.
Digital inclusion of older people
Project leader: dr. Gražina Rapolienė
Duration: 2021-09-01 – 2023-11-30
No. S-MIP-21-58
Project team: dr. Margarita Gedvilaitė – Kordušienė, Vaida Tretjakova
Summary:
The project aims to analyze the factors that encourage older people to use modern technologies (Internet, email, Skype, smartphone apps, etc.) and their subjectively perceived impact. We base our analysis on secondary quantitative data, original qualitative study, social exclusion, and social network theories. According to the data analysis from the European Social Survey, the share of older people using ICT has increased 4-fold in the last decade (2010-2020), but as the share of younger ICT users has also grown, the digital inclusion gap between generations widened. The following statistically significant factors of digital inclusion of older people were identified: age, education, place of residence, and access to the Internet at home. The main factor determining the likelihood of older people using the Internet is access to it at home. Older people who do not have this opportunity have very little chance of using the Internet. We divided the difficulties experienced by older ICT users, identified in the original qualitative study (N=45), into three groups: 1) “taming” of technology as a unique system (specific principles of operation, cursor control, touch screens, English and technical language), 2) psychological relationship with an unknown and complex subject – fear, insecurity, the shame of not knowing, experiencing one’s limitations, lack of patience, 3) changes that informants associate with age: decreased motivation to explore innovations, learning difficulties and health problems (decreased finger sensitivity, vision, memory). Comparing the barriers to the use of ICT identified in our study with the findings of other studies, the specificity of Eastern and Central European context emerges: not knowing English, ageist attitudes and possibly insufficient access to the equipment. Although most of the informants started learning to use the first computers at work, the incentives for ICT use are the awareness of the ever-increasing necessity, the will, and the stubbornness to learn alone. Users are motivated by a sense of success, self-pride, easy access to information, open communication, and the ability to cultivate or observe cultural events from home. The results of our study support the suggestion of other researchers (Martín-García et al. 2022; Hill et al. 2015) that ICT training needs to introduce the usefulness of ICT, thereby reducing the fear of technology and its perceived complexity. When starting to use technology, older people can benefit significantly from having a constant mentor or advisor they can turn to for help (often, children or grandchildren take up this role). Qualitative research data showed that informal networks, such as intergenerational family ties, are a favourable medium for older people to overcome technophobia because older people have the opportunity to ask simple questions without the embarrassment of repeating them, and a closer connection allows for the recognition of specific person-centred needs and challenges. Thus, when developing digital literacy programs, essential aspects would be personalization and contextualization (Neves, Mead 2021). Intergenerational networks (children, grandchildren, and other relatives) have the potential to encourage and motivate older people to use technology, but generational differences can pose challenges in passing on skills. Therefore, the development of digital literacy programs that would help the younger generation to transfer knowledge more easily is relevant. These measures would require more precise wording to replace the jargon used in this field. The development of targeted measures for specific groups of older people (e.g. childless, older people living alone, etc.) would be necessary for promoting greater digital inclusion. Three articles in English have been prepared based on the research conducted, and three presentations were given at international events (Intermediate ESA Aging Network and Socio-Gerontechnological Network Conferences). Additionally, two more peer-reviewed articles, two verbal conference presentations, and three articles for media are planned. The results of this study will be helpful for social policymakers and non-governmental organizations, reducing the digital and social exclusion of older people.
Other national projects
Culture and public well-being: the social impact of the cultural and creative industries and its measurement
Project team: dr. Lilija Kublickienė (project leader), dr. Ingrida Gečienė-Janulionė, dr. Laima Nevinskaitė, dr. Tadas Šarūnas.
Project partner: Vilnius university
Duration: 2024 07 01 – 2025 12 31
Source funding: Research Council of Lithuania
Summary
The cultural and creative industries (CCIs) sector is a significant source of jobs and income, and has an impact on the wider economy as a driver of innovation and a source of creative skills. In addition to its economic impact, CCIs also have significant social impacts, from supporting health and well-being, to promoting social inclusion and social capital. However, the lack of research, scientific evidence and methodological tools to measure the social impact generated by CCI also means that the sector remains undervalued. The aim of the study “Culture and Social Well-being: the social impact of the cultural and creative industries and its measurement” is to investigate the social impact of CCIs in Lithuania on different groups of society and to develop a methodology for measuring the social impact of CCIs. Objectives of the study: 1) Identify the key elements of the social impact assessment of the CCIs and the indicators that reflect them; 2) To investigate the social impact of Lithuanian CCIs on different groups of society and the contribution of these industries to addressing current social challenges; 3) Develop a methodological tool for measuring the social impact of CCI activities; 4) Based on the results of the research, formulate recommendations on measures to ensure the positive impact of CCIs on different groups of society; 5) Publicise the results of the project to the target audiences (CCI representatives, academia) and the general public. The developed methodology for measuring the social impact will enable CCI representatives and policy makers to carry out a science-based assessment of the social impact of CCIs and to ensure evidence-based policy making and effective planning. Based on the results of the study, it will identify measures that have the potential to increase the social impact of CCI on different groups in society. The study will also contribute to raising the awareness of the importance of the social impact of CCIs in society.
Other national projects
Changes and Prospects in the Tourism Sector Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Head of the research tem: dr. Darius Liutikas
Duration: 2021 11 03 – 2023 09 01
No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-05-0057, Research Council Lithuania
Members of the research team: dr. D. Liutikas, dr. D. Burneika, dr. E. Kriaučiūnas, dr. G. Pociūtė – Sereikienė, dr. V. Baranauskienė
Summary:
The aim of the project is to analyse the development potential of the local and inbound tourism sector following the COVID-19 pandemic and to propose innovative forms of tourism activities related to new technologies, services and products. Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic. As the prospects of the tourism sector depend to a large extent on its renewal and innovation, the project participants focus on and focus on these aspects of the sector. In analysing the future prospects of the sector, it is necessary to take into account not only the changed social and health environment, but also the challenges of environmental protection, adaptation to climate change and digitisation. The development and deployment of tourism innovation is impossible without an innovative and creative society, and the project aims to assess not only the positive benefits of innovation but also social threats and risks and to propose measures to manage them.
The study examined the development of Lithuanian inbound and domestic tourism during and after the pandemic period. The impact on the tourism sector was found to be ambiguous and not necessarily negative. In addition to providing an opportunity for some local tourism activities, the pandemic has also provided a stimulus for innovation and change. Analyse state aid and its benefits, which, although very important, as the preliminary results show, have not been adequately distributed among all players in the tourism sector.
Postdoctoral fellowship projects
Navigatng Aging in Place: The Perspectve of Older People Aging Solo
Postdoctoral fellow: dr. Jūratė Charenkova
Postdoctoral supervisor: dr. Sarmitė Mikulionienė
Duration: from November 04, 2024 to November 03, 2026.
Summary
The aim of the project is to explore the solo aging in place focusing on the complex interplay of community engagement, the use of technology and social support. In this research, technology is understood in a broad sense and encompasses various electronic devices and apps, products and services, such as e‐government, e‐health, e‐education, robotics, smart homes, etc. The research will take place in Lithuania and Italy, two countries with similar cultural attitudes and expectayions towards long‐term care of older people, but with different histories of the development of social service systems, traditions of long‐term care organisation and social contexts. The findings of this extensive international qualitative research will shed light on the diverse experiences of solo aging in place and enhance the understanding of how to increase the quality of life for older people living alone by providing more insight into prerequisites for successful aging in place.
Identities of National Minority Youths: From Regional to Supranational (the Case of Šalcininkai District)
Postdoctoral fellow: dr. Vidmantas Vyšniauskas
Postdoctoral supervisor: dr. Kristina Šliavaitė
Duration: from February 01, 2024 to January 31, 2026.
Summary
The research conducted in Lithuania up to this point to show that the identity of older generations of people belonging to ethnic minorities has been sufficiently and thoroughly studied. However, young people (i.e. born in 1990 and later) were either not included in these identity studies due to their age, or were underrepresented. Therefore, it is currently difficult to get a clear picture of the identity of the youths of national minorities. Increased knowledge in this area can help Lithuanian state institutions and non-governmental organizations to adjust their policies and services, and better respond to the needs of youths from national minorities. Considering the aforementioned lack of scientific knowledge the study aims to investigate the identification trajectories of youths born in Lithuania and living in Šalčininkai district from ethnic minorities, focusing on their tendencies to identify with a territory and/or community.
Results
Publications
Vyšniauskas, V., Pilarczyk-Palaitis, A. (2024). Contemporary Self-identification as a “Tutejszy” in Southeastern Lithuania. Český lid, 111(2), p. 173–198.
Exploring middle-aged women’s aging anxiety: used coping strategies and associated factors
Postdoctoral fellow: dr. Goda Gegieckaitė.
Postdoctoral supervisor: dr. Gražina Rapolienė.
Duration: 2024 03 01 – 2026 02 28.
Promoting successful aging is one of the priorities in rapidly aging Western societies. Individuals’ aging anxiety has been found to negatively impact successful aging later in life, therefore it is an important issue to understand and address. Aging anxiety is defined as the concern and anticipation of adverse losses centered around aging (Lasher & Faulkender, 1993). Given the distinct societal pressures and concerns that middle-aged women face related to age-related changes, there is a need for targeted research on middle-aged women’s aging anxiety. While there is some research on risk factors of aging anxiety, coping strategies used to deal with aging anxiety and factors associated with it are scarcely researched.
The aim of the proposed project will be to explore factors associated with aging anxiety and related coping strategies among middle-aged women. A qualitative and a quantitative study will be conducted to meet the objectives of the project. Objectives of the project will be to identify and analyze factors associated with aging anxiety and coping strategies used for aging anxiety among middle-aged women, and to analyze the association between aging anxiety, used coping strategies, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Possible differences in aging anxiety, used coping and their associations with other factors in different stages of middle adulthood will be analyzed as well.