Association of social participation and patterns with depression: analysis of data from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

Patterns of social engagement, particularly frequent interactions with friends, participation in a variety of societal activities, and the combined use of the internet with friend interactions, were inversely related to the risk of depression onset and worsening depressive trajectories. These findings emphasize that promoting social participation activities can serve as practical intervention tools to prevent depression, providing a foundation for strengthening public health policies aimed at fostering social connectivity and reducing the burden of depressive disorders.