Depressive symptoms are one of the most common mental health problems in later life. Although previous studies examined the social determinants of depressive symptoms, older adults’ attitudes towards ageing (ATA) and the underlying mechanisms are understudied, especially in developing country contexts such as China. The objective of this study was to examine the association between ATA and social participation, and their influences on depressive symptoms among older Chinese adults. The data were drawn from the 2014 baseline wave of the China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey, and 8,568 respondents aged sixty years or older were included in this study. Path analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that both psychological loss and psychological growth (i.e. two types of ATA) had a direct effect on depressive symptoms. In addition, ATA were likely to mediate the relationship between social participation and depressive symptoms among older people. In conclusion, this study emphasises the importance of older people’s ATA in reducing depressive symptoms and how engaging in social activities could modify ATA and further reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.
An increasing number of studies have focused on the relationship between neighbourhood environment and depressive symptoms among older people. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. This study examined the association between neighbourhood environment and depressive symptoms among older urban Chinese adults and the mediator role of social capital in this association. Using a quota sampling approach, 472 respondents aged 60 years or older were recruited from 23 urban communities of Shanghai, China, in 2020. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Social capital was measured by two latent constructs: cognitive social capital (e.g., trust, reciprocity, belongingness) and structural social capital (e.g., memberships, social participation). Perceived physical neighbourhood environment was assessed in terms of health care, security, and public transportation status. Structural equation modelling was conducted to test the study hypotheses. Health care services in the community had a direct effect on depressive symptoms (β = −0.097, p < .05). Cognitive social capital played a mediator role in the relationship between physical neighbourhood environment and depressive symptoms (community health care: β = −0.124, p < .01; community security: β = −0.284, p < .01). The mediator effect of structural social capital in the relationship between physical neighbourhood environment and depressive symptoms was not significant. The findings highlight the role of physical neighbourhood environment in fostering community‐based social capital and promoting mental health among older adults in urban China. Policy strategies could focus on improving community health care and security to promote mental health.
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