Social participation and mental well-being: Does purpose in life mediate the association among older adults?

Abstract

Objectives

We investigated the association of social participation with mental well-being among older people and whether purpose in life mediates the potential association.

Method

Cross-sectional (n = 1014) and longitudinal (n = 660, four-year follow-up) data comprised of three age cohorts (75, 80, and 85 years) of community-dwelling people. Life satisfaction was measured with the Satisfaction with Life Scale, depressive symptoms with the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and purpose in life with the Scales of Psychological Well-Being purpose in life subscale. Social participation was assessed with questions concerning the frequency of meeting close friends and acquaintances, and volunteering. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Results

Higher social participation was associated with higher life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms both cross-sectionally and after a four-year follow-up. Higher purpose in life mediated the associations of more social participation with higher life satisfaction and fewer depressive symptoms cross-sectionally. In the longitudinal data, the mediation effect was not observed.

Conclusion

Older people with frequent social participation who had a sense of purpose in their lives will likely have higher mental well-being than those with less social participation. Enabling and supporting them to conduct purposeful actions in social contexts may help maintain their mental well-being.

Keywords:

• Social relations
• purpose in life
• life satisfaction
• depressive symptoms
• aged people
• structural equation modeling

Acknowledgements

We thank all the AGNES participants who contributed their time and information and the staff members who helped with the AGNES data collection. Gerontology Research Center is a joint effort between the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Tampere.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there is no competing interest to declare.

Data availability statement

The data used in this study are available upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council under Grant [number 693045]; the Academy of Finland under Grant [number 310526]; and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The funders had no role in the design of the study or the data collection, analysis, and interpretation, or the writing of the manuscript. The content of this article does not reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in the article lies entirely with the authors.