Associations among social participation types, mental and subjective well-being in Chinese older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims: This study investigated the relationships between specific types of social participation and well-being variables (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, symptoms of depression and anxiety) in Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 341 participants aged 55–95 years (mean, 70.92; SD, 9.03) was recruited to complete a survey questionnaire during the COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2022). Five hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between different types of social participation (physical, cultural, recreational, religious, and voluntary work) and outcome variables. Results: After controlling for covariates, it was revealed that only physical activities were associated with all outcome variables. Religious and cultural activities were positively related to positive affect, while an inverse relationship was found between recreational activities and anxiety. Conclusions: With the restrictions on social participation arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings suggest that promoting different types of social interactions might foster various aspects of well-being in Chinese older adults. To achieve successful aging, the role of physical activities might be of paramount importance even under adverse situations. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 364–369.