Heterogeneous social participation profiles and socioecological correlates among community-dwelling older adults: a latent profile analysis

Abstract Background Social participation in later life is often summarized using an aggregate score, which may obscure distinct configurations of everyday, social, and volunteering activities. This study aimed to identify latent social participation profiles among community-dwelling older adults and examine their socioecological correlates. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 600 adults aged 60 years or older completed interviewer-administered questionnaires in four urban communities in Beijing between June and December 2025. Guided by the Social Ecological Model (SEM), candidate correlates were prospectively organized across individual, interpersonal, and community opportunity domains. Social participation was assessed using the Social Participation Scale for Older Adults. Latent profile analysis was used to identify distinct social participation profiles. Associations of individual, interpersonal, and community opportunity factors with profile membership were examined using a bias-adjusted three-step approach that accounted for classification uncertainty. Results Three profiles were identified: overall lower participation (59.8%), broad participation with limited volunteering (33.8%), and volunteering-intensive broad participation (6.4%). At the individual level, lower functional limitation and better self-rated health were associated with both more engaged profiles relative to overall lower participation. Lower depressive symptoms were additionally associated with broad participation with limited volunteering. At the interpersonal level, higher social support was associated with both more engaged profiles. Regarding community opportunities, active community encouragement of older adults’ participation in social activities was associated with both more engaged profiles, whereas frequent organized community activities were specifically associated with volunteering-intensive broad participation. Sensitivity analyses showed broadly similar directions for these key associations. Conclusions Social participation differed not only in overall level but also in activity configuration, particularly regarding volunteering. Community-based primary-care services, including community nursing practice, may benefit from considering participation configurations alongside older adults’ health, functional, social, and reported local opportunity resources. Longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine whether profile-informed support strategies can facilitate sustained engagement across different participation profiles.