Longitudinal relationship between living alone and health among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of activity engagement

ABSTRACT

This study examined the longitudinal relationships between living arrangements and health and the mediation effect of social interaction and leisure activity among community-residing older adults in China. Data were retrieved from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2011–2015). The sample included 5,927 respondents aged 60 or older at baseline. Multilevel generalised structural equation modelling (GSEM) was used. Results showed that living alone was associated with better self-rated health over time (B = .06, SE = .03, p < .05) relative to living with others. Social interaction and leisure activity significantly mediated the effect of living alone, accounting for nine per cent of the total effect on self-rated health. Living alone has direct and indirect effects on self-rated health through activity engagement. Practice and policy efforts are needed to help older adults, especially those living alone, remain socially engaged in a supportive environment.

摘要 本文研究了在社区居住的中国老年人的居住安排与健康之间的纵向关系, 以及社会互动和休闲活动在其中的中介作用。数据来自于三轮的中国健康与养老追踪调查 (CHARLS 2011-2015) 。样本包括5,927名基线年龄在60岁或以上的受访者。本文使用了多层广义结构方程模型 (GSEM) 。研究结果显示, 随着时间的推移, 独居老人的自评健康显著好于与他人同住的老人 (B= .06, SE = .03, p< .05) 。社会互动和休闲活动在独居与自评健康之间具有显著的中介效应, 其占总效应的比重为9%。通过活动参与, 独居对自评健康有着直接和间接的影响。我们需要在实践和政策方面做出努力来帮助老年人 (特别是那些独居的老年人) 在具有支持性的环境中继续参与社会。

KEYWORDS:

• Living arrangement
• health
• activity engagement
• China Health and Retirement
• Longitudinal Study

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).