Beyond nutrition: Community senior canteens, social participation pathways, and depressive symptoms in older Chinese adults

BACKGROUND: Depression is a major mental health challenge among older adults in China. Community senior canteens have been promoted as a way to support physical and psychological well-being, but their impacts and underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. METHODS: We used data from three waves (2018, 2020, 2023) of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey, focusing on adults aged 60 and older. Fixed effects regression models estimated the associations between canteen availability, integrated service environments, use, affordability, and depressive symptoms. Mediation analysis examined the roles of personal and volunteer-based social participation. Subgroup analyses considered gender, urban-rural status, and age groups. RESULTS: Community canteen availability was significantly associated with lower depressive symptoms. The effect was stronger in amenity-rich communities. Mediation analysis showed that personal and volunteer-based social participation partly explained the mental health benefits of canteen availability, with the indirect effect of personal participation being larger. The protective effects were especially notable among women, rural residents, and younger elderly. CONCLUSION: Community senior canteens can play a key role in reducing depressive symptoms in later life, particularly when integrated into rich service environments. Enhancing opportunities for informal social participation may further strengthen these benefits. Policymakers should focus on both expanding service coverage and tailoring interventions to the needs of vulnerable groups.