From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression

ObjectivesThe retirement phase and social participation influence the depressive symptoms of older individuals. Nonetheless, the fundamental mechanisms connecting these factors remain unclear. This analysis examined mediating social participation in the relationship between older adults’ retirement...

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Main Authors: Yiyu Zhan, He Ning, Yuchen Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1522222/full
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author Yiyu Zhan
He Ning
Yuchen Zhang
author_facet Yiyu Zhan
He Ning
Yuchen Zhang
author_sort Yiyu Zhan
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThe retirement phase and social participation influence the depressive symptoms of older individuals. Nonetheless, the fundamental mechanisms connecting these factors remain unclear. This analysis examined mediating social participation in the relationship between older adults’ retirement and depressive symptoms.MethodsThe study analyzed 9,103 Chinese individuals aged 60 and above utilizing the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Researchers evaluated participants’ depression utilizing the Center for Studies in Epidemiology Depression Scale (CESD-10). The hierarchical multiple regression models were utilized to evaluate the link between retirement and depression, through cross-sectional analyses, along with the possible influence of social participation on this relationship.ResultsRetirement significantly reduce older individuals’ depression and improves their mental health state. In addition, social participation as a mediating variable further enhanced the beneficial impacts of retirement on the mental health state.ConclusionThis research discovered that retirement indirectly influences older adults’ depression, with social participation playing a significant impact. Thus, it establishes a foundation for mitigating psychological issues in this demographic. Engaging in or sustaining social activities during later life enhances the mental well-being of older individuals. Promoting social participation among older individuals is a viable approach to reduce depression and facilitating successful aging initiatives in this demographic.
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spelling doaj-art-1a198d5e090b44a3a05521742a298dfd2025-08-20T02:00:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-03-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15222221522222From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depressionYiyu ZhanHe NingYuchen ZhangObjectivesThe retirement phase and social participation influence the depressive symptoms of older individuals. Nonetheless, the fundamental mechanisms connecting these factors remain unclear. This analysis examined mediating social participation in the relationship between older adults’ retirement and depressive symptoms.MethodsThe study analyzed 9,103 Chinese individuals aged 60 and above utilizing the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Researchers evaluated participants’ depression utilizing the Center for Studies in Epidemiology Depression Scale (CESD-10). The hierarchical multiple regression models were utilized to evaluate the link between retirement and depression, through cross-sectional analyses, along with the possible influence of social participation on this relationship.ResultsRetirement significantly reduce older individuals’ depression and improves their mental health state. In addition, social participation as a mediating variable further enhanced the beneficial impacts of retirement on the mental health state.ConclusionThis research discovered that retirement indirectly influences older adults’ depression, with social participation playing a significant impact. Thus, it establishes a foundation for mitigating psychological issues in this demographic. Engaging in or sustaining social activities during later life enhances the mental well-being of older individuals. Promoting social participation among older individuals is a viable approach to reduce depression and facilitating successful aging initiatives in this demographic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1522222/fullretirementsocial participationCHARLSdepressionmediating analysis
spellingShingle Yiyu Zhan
He Ning
Yuchen Zhang
From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
Frontiers in Psychiatry
retirement
social participation
CHARLS
depression
mediating analysis
title From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
title_full From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
title_fullStr From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
title_full_unstemmed From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
title_short From work to community: how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults’ depression
title_sort from work to community how social participation and retirement can benefit older adults depression
topic retirement
social participation
CHARLS
depression
mediating analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1522222/full
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