RT Journal Article
T1 Depopulation and social work: Care provision as a strategic focus for intervention
A1 González Portillo, Auxiliadora
A1 Ruiz Ballesteros, Esteban
K1 Care provision
K1 Community
K1 Depopulation
K1 Public social services
K1 Rural crisis
K1 Rural social work
AB Rural depopulation is one of the major socio-structural challenges facing Spain today, impacting social sustainability and care provision. This article analyses the impact of depopulation on care provision in rural areas and examines the strategic role of social work in the face of eroding family, community, State and market networks that have traditionally ensured such provision. The research is based on a qualitative study carried out over three years in three rural areas of Andalusia characterized by significant population loss. It involved conducting in-depth interviews and participatory workshops with twenty-nine social work professionals. The results show that depopulation increases the demand for care—due to ageing, loneliness, and chronic conditions—while weakening the available resources to address it. In this context, social workers play a central role as providers, mediators, and coordinators of care provision, highlighting their community intervention, presence, activation of networks, and institutional mediation. The study concludes that these practices shape a specific model of rural social work, key to the well-being, equity and sustainability of depopulated territories, and calls for greater recognition in public policies, research and academic training.
PB Oxford Academic
YR 2026
FD 2026-07-29
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10433/27305
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10433/27305
LA en
NO González-Portillo, A. & Ruiz-Ballesteros, E. (2026). Depopulation and social work: care provision as a strategic focus for intervention. The British Journal of Social Work, 2026; bcag154, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcag154
NO Proyectos de Investigación“Servicios Sociales Comunitarios ante la crisis rural en Andalucía” (ProyExcel-00124). Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación, Junta de Andalucía
NO Universidad Pablo de Olavide. Departamento de Trabajo Social y Servicios Sociales
DS RIO
RD Aug 5, 2026