Effect of Socioeconomic Status on the Physical and Mental Health of the Elderly: The Mediating Effect of Social Participation
Abstract Background: Many studies have shown that socioeconomic status and social participation are important factors affecting the health status of the elderly. However, the specific mechanism and path are unclear. This research aimed to investigate the mediating effect of social participation on the association between the socioeconomic status and the health status of the elderly.Methods: A total of 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were obtained, including 10 197 elderly people over 65 years old. Bootstrap method was adopted to examine the mediating effect of social participation on the relationship of the socioeconomic status with the physical and mental health of the elderly. Socioeconomic status included three dimensions: income, education level, and main occupation before retirement. The physical and mental health of the elderly were measured with the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) and the Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE). The social participation of the elderly was the mediator variable, including group exercise and organised social activities. Results: The average scores of IADL and MMSE were 17.98 and 23.04, respectively. Group-exercise participation had a mediating effect between socioeconomic status and physical health of the elderly, and the highest proportion of the mediating effect of each subdimension was 62.84% (95% CI = 0.165, 0.285). The highest proportion of the mediating effect of group-exercise participation on the mental-health status of the elderly was 16.70% (95% CI = 0.072, 0.153). The mediating effect of interacting with friends between the socioeconomic status and the physical health of the elderly was 30.69% (95% CI = 0.037, 0.196) in each subdimension and 15.46% (95% CI = 0.012, 0.169) in mental health. Participation in organised social activities had a mediating effect only between the socioeconomic status and the physical health of the elderly, and the highest proportion of the mediating effect in each dimension was 13.97% (95% CI = 0.014, 0.088).Conclusion: The socioeconomic status of the elderly plays a mediating role in the process of influencing the physical and mental health of the elderly by participating in group exercise and organised social activities, as well as actively interacting with friends. It can significantly adjust the adverse effects of a disadvantaged socioeconomic status on improvements in physical and mental health to achieve better health outcomes.