Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs
PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between participation in community seniors' organizations (CSOs) and mental health among retired adults in urban China, and illustrate the causal mechanism.MethodsWe collected data on participation from a community seniors' organizatio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1045948/full |
| _version_ | 1811194705231216640 |
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| author | Yuruo Lei Jie Lao Jiawei Liu |
| author_facet | Yuruo Lei Jie Lao Jiawei Liu |
| author_sort | Yuruo Lei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between participation in community seniors' organizations (CSOs) and mental health among retired adults in urban China, and illustrate the causal mechanism.MethodsWe collected data on participation from a community seniors' organization and mental health survey in Shenzhen City, China, in July 2022. The survey used a two-stage cluster sample design, based on administrative divisions as the primary sampling unit and communities as the second sampling unit, where retired adults were randomly sampled. The inclusion criteria were individuals >60 years old (the mandatory age for retirement in China) or women who retired early at the age of 45 years. We used three multivariable regression models to estimate the effects of participation in CSOs on mental health. Furthermore, we used structural equation models to examine the mediator of acquired interpersonal needs in the association between CSOs participation and mental health.ResultsThe study examined the values of CSOs, generated explicitly for older adults and explained how participation in such organizations benefits retired adults' mental health. Mental health is defined in three dimensions: aggregate mental health, positive emotions, and negative emotions. The results show that constituting social networks with like-minded individuals and perceiving interpersonal needs are the two main benefits of CSOs on mental health. The retired individual who participated in CSOs with a higher level of diversity and frequency, joined specific types such as health- and study-related CSOs, could receive more interpersonal needs and were probably mentally healthier. The mediating mechanism of interpersonal needs associated with participation in mental health was significant. Besides, mental health is generally affected by physical health, sleep quality, and socioeconomic status.ConclusionThis study suggested that CSOs have expanded the social interaction channels of retired adults and affected their mental health by providing basic interpersonal needs such as inclusion, dominance, and affection. Among the types of CSOs, health and study organizations might enhance mental health most effectively, while semi-official organizations have no effect. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:31:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-985b6ed0e7a64900b397dc86c34743e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:31:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-985b6ed0e7a64900b397dc86c34743e42022-12-22T03:55:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-12-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.10459481045948Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needsYuruo LeiJie LaoJiawei LiuPurposeThis study aimed to investigate the association between participation in community seniors' organizations (CSOs) and mental health among retired adults in urban China, and illustrate the causal mechanism.MethodsWe collected data on participation from a community seniors' organization and mental health survey in Shenzhen City, China, in July 2022. The survey used a two-stage cluster sample design, based on administrative divisions as the primary sampling unit and communities as the second sampling unit, where retired adults were randomly sampled. The inclusion criteria were individuals >60 years old (the mandatory age for retirement in China) or women who retired early at the age of 45 years. We used three multivariable regression models to estimate the effects of participation in CSOs on mental health. Furthermore, we used structural equation models to examine the mediator of acquired interpersonal needs in the association between CSOs participation and mental health.ResultsThe study examined the values of CSOs, generated explicitly for older adults and explained how participation in such organizations benefits retired adults' mental health. Mental health is defined in three dimensions: aggregate mental health, positive emotions, and negative emotions. The results show that constituting social networks with like-minded individuals and perceiving interpersonal needs are the two main benefits of CSOs on mental health. The retired individual who participated in CSOs with a higher level of diversity and frequency, joined specific types such as health- and study-related CSOs, could receive more interpersonal needs and were probably mentally healthier. The mediating mechanism of interpersonal needs associated with participation in mental health was significant. Besides, mental health is generally affected by physical health, sleep quality, and socioeconomic status.ConclusionThis study suggested that CSOs have expanded the social interaction channels of retired adults and affected their mental health by providing basic interpersonal needs such as inclusion, dominance, and affection. Among the types of CSOs, health and study organizations might enhance mental health most effectively, while semi-official organizations have no effect.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1045948/fullparticipation in community seniors' organizationsmental healthpositive emotionsnegative emotionssocial capitalinterpersonal needs |
| spellingShingle | Yuruo Lei Jie Lao Jiawei Liu Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs Frontiers in Public Health participation in community seniors' organizations mental health positive emotions negative emotions social capital interpersonal needs |
| title | Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| title_full | Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| title_fullStr | Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| title_short | Participation in community seniors' organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban China: The mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| title_sort | participation in community seniors organizations and mental health among retired adults in urban china the mediating role of interpersonal needs |
| topic | participation in community seniors' organizations mental health positive emotions negative emotions social capital interpersonal needs |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1045948/full |
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