The impact of spouse health on social participation of older adults in China: Evidence from the CLHLS

Abstract

BackgroundChina is dealing with a serious aging issue. Social participation is essential for active aging. The health status of spouses is intertwined with the trajectory of the social function of the elderly. ObjectivesThis study examined the association between spouse health and social participation among older Chinese adults. The study also explored the mediating role of loneliness and anxiety between spousal health and social participation. MethodsThe analytic sample included 6125 adults aged 60 years and above. Prospective data were obtained from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). First, we described basic socio-demographic information about the sample. Secondly, Spearman's correlation analysis was used to determine whether correlations existed between spousal health, loneliness, anxiety, and social participation. Finally, mediation analysis was run using the SPSS macro PROCESS program. ResultsSpousal health, loneliness, anxiety, and social participation were significantly correlated (P < 0.01). Spousal health could not only have a direct positive impact on social participation in older adults (β = 0.239, 95 % CI: 0.120, 0.359), but also indirectly on social participation through three pathways: an independent mediating effect of loneliness (β = 0.020, 95 % CI: 0.009, 0.034), an independent mediating effect of anxiety (β = 0.018, 95%CI: 0.009, 0.032), and a chain mediating effect of loneliness and anxiety (β = 0.004, 95%CI: 0.002, 0.007). ConclusionThis study suggests paying more attention to elderly couples and decreasing the negative consequences of changes in spousal health.