Unpacking the mediating role of subjective age in the relationship between volunteering and older adults’ depressive symptoms

Abstract Volunteering serves as a critical factor in alleviating depressive symptoms among older adults. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship, particularly the role of different types of volunteering (formal vs. informal), remain insufficiently examined. Using data from 5,319 older adults across three waves (2018, 2020, and 2023) of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, this study investigates the associations between formal and informal volunteering and depressive symptoms, and examines the mediating role of subjective age. The results show that formal volunteering exhibits a stronger negative association with depressive symptoms compared to informal volunteering. Moreover, subjective age mediates this relationship, with the mediating effect more pronounced in the context of formal volunteering. These findings enhance our understanding of how volunteering influences mental health in later life and offer implications for policy and intervention strategies aimed at promoting healthy aging.