Abstract

As population aging accelerates globally, dominant models of productive aging remain largely Western-centric and economically oriented. This study reconceptualizes productive aging through a culturally grounded, role-based framework within the Thai context. Employing a qualitative multi-case design, in-depth interviews were conducted with eight exemplary older adults across four regions of Thailand. Thematic analysis identified seven socially embedded productive roles, including continuous worker, volunteer, knowledge transmitter, lifelong learner, community leader, network coordinator, and caregiver. Cross-case synthesis further revealed core enabling characteristics such as self-reliance, moral commitment, relational leadership, resilience, and lifelong learning orientation. The findings demonstrate that productive aging in collectivist societies is rooted in identity continuity, moral citizenship, and relational responsibility rather than solely economic output. Importantly, community-based elderly schools emerged as institutional mechanisms that cultivate and sustain productive engagement in later life. By integrating role theory, lifelong learning, and culturally embedded perspectives, this study advances a more inclusive theoretical model of productive aging and offers policy-relevant insights for rapidly aging societies.

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