Social Participation and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults

Is there heterogeneity in the association between social participation and depressive symptoms by sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related characteristics among older adults?In this cohort study including 11 146 participants in nationwide surveys of older adults in Japan, an association between social participation and depressive symptoms was found. This association was heterogeneous, with social participation associated with a reduced risk of depressive symptoms among older adults and those with lower socioeconomic status.Promoting social participation may be beneficial not only for improving mental health but also for reducing mental health disparities, particularly for older adults with lower socioeconomic status.

Corresponding Author: Kosuke Inoue, PhD, Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan, Yoshida-Konoecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 6068315, Japan (inoue.kosuke.2j@kyoto-u.ac.jp).

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