A study on the impact of productive social participation on depression among older adults in China

As the ageing of China’s population continues to accelerate, mental health issues among older adults are increasingly becoming a key concern in public health, social governance and the development of elderly care service systems. Against the backdrop of the deepening concepts of active ageing, healthy ageing and ‘meaningful ageing’, productive social participation—as a key means for older adults to maintain social connections and realise their self-worth—may have a significant impact on their depression. This study aims to explore the impact of productive social participation on depression among older adults in China and its underlying mechanisms, with a view to providing empirical evidence to assist relevant authorities in formulating targeted intervention strategies and improving the mental health service system for older adults. Drawing on balanced panel data from the three waves (2018, 2020 and 2023) of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study focuses on older adults aged 60 and above in China. Using fixed-effects regression models, mediation analysis and robustness tests, the study investigates the impact of productive social participation on depression and the mediating role of attitudes towards ageing. The study found that productive social participation is significantly associated with lower levels of depression in older adults, and attitudes towards ageing may serve as an important psychological pathway explaining the relationship between productive social participation and depression in older adults. Political participation and paid participation are key sources through which productive social participation alleviates depression among older adults; whilst the overall effect of public-welfare participation was not significant, differences were observed within its various activities. Specifically, environmental protection and companionship through conversation were associated with lower depression, whereas dispute mediation and concern for the education of the younger generation were associated with higher depression. Productive social participation was associated with lower depression among older adults, and more positive attitudes towards ageing may partly account for this association. It is recommended that the health of older adults be prioritised; on the basis of fully respecting their wishes, they should be encouraged to participate in social activities and community development, and targeted strategies to promote social participation should be implemented for older adults with different characteristics .