The impact of community participation on depression among empty nesters in China

BACKGROUND: With shifting family structures and intensified population mobility, empty-nest seniors have emerged as a significant demographic in China’s aging society, necessitating urgent attention to their mental health. This study examines the impact of community participation on depression among empty-nest seniors and its underlying mechanisms, aiming to provide empirical evidence for developing targeted community intervention strategies and enhancing mental health services for this population. METHODS: Using data from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study focused on the empty nesters cohort. It employed regression models and mediation analysis to examine the impact of community participation on depression and the mediating role of social networks. RESULTS: Findings indicate that active participation in community activities positively influences the reduction of depression among empty nesters. Friendship networks partially mediate this relationship, while family networks show no significant mediating effect. CONCLUSION: Community participation primarily influences depression by expanding the size of friends’ networks among empty-nest seniors. Recommendations include optimizing community activity design, building substantive social networks, prioritizing senior health, establishing mental health support mechanisms, and implementing tailored community participation promotion strategies for empty-nest seniors with different characteristics.