The impact of social engagement on the mental health development of older adults: A 10-year longitudinal study.

Life satisfaction and depression in older adults followed nonlinear quadratic trajectories over 10 years, with life satisfaction showing an inverted U-shape and depression showing a U-shape.

• Quadratic growth curve models fit life satisfaction and depression better than linear models.
• Life satisfaction followed an inverted U-shape trajectory across the five waves (2011-2020).
• Depression followed a U-shape trajectory across the five waves (2011-2020).
• The study used five-wave data from CHARLS (China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study) spanning 2011 to 2020.

Social engagement was positively associated with life satisfaction at two time points (T1 and T3) over the 10-year study period.

• Social engagement was positively associated with life satisfaction at T1 (2011) and T3 (approximately 2015).
• The association was not statistically significant at all five time points.
• The sample consisted of 1828 participants aged 60-74 (mean age 64.57 ± 3.74).
• Greater social engagement corresponded to higher levels of life satisfaction.

Social engagement was negatively associated with depression at three time points (T1, T2, and T5) over the 10-year study period.

• Social engagement was negatively associated with depression at T1, T2, and T5.
• Greater social engagement was associated with lower levels of depression.
• The association was not statistically significant at all five time points.
• Depression was assessed across all five waves of CHARLS data from 2011 to 2020.

The number of chronic diseases was found to be a crucial factor for older adults' mental health.

• Chronic disease burden was identified as an important covariate in models of both life satisfaction and depression.
• The finding suggests physical health monitoring is important alongside social engagement interventions.
• The study used the dual-factor model of mental health, assessing both life satisfaction and depression as indicators of psychological well-being.

The study analyzed longitudinal mental health trajectories of 1828 older adults aged 60-74 using growth curve modeling across five waves of CHARLS data.

• Participants were aged 60-74 at baseline, with a mean age of 64.57 ± 3.74 years.
• Five waves of data were used from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning 2011 to 2020.
• Both linear and nonlinear (quadratic) growth curve models were constructed and compared.
• Mental health was assessed using both life satisfaction and depression in accordance with the dual-factor model of mental health.