Perceptions, opportunities and barriers of social engagement among the Chinese older adults: a qualitative study

The social engagement of the older adults in urban China reflects and is influenced by the wider socio-economic transformation of the country in the recent decades. Financial security afforded by the pension system has lessened the older adults' need to engage in income-generating activities. Combined with an increase in leisure time, this represents a luxury previously unavailable to earlier generations. However, institutional ageism and low digital literacy are important constraints, particularly for the 'oldest old' and those with limited socio-economic status.