Between 1990 and 2021, life expectancy in China increased from 67.7 to 77.6 years, while Healthy Life Expectancy (HALE) rose from 60.3 to 68.6 years. Although people are living longer, compared to the past, the number of years Chinese people spend in non-healthy conditions such as chronic diseases and disabilities has also become longer. How to help the elderly live a better life in their old age has become an important issue in Chinese society.
In December 2020, the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China elevated actively coping with population aging to a national strategy. Positive aging policies need to prioritize the promotion of healthier lifestyles, and social participation is a key component of this, significantly improving the physical health, mental health, and cognitive functions of the elderly.
Recently, Marius Wamsiedel, Assistant Professor from the Global Health Research Center of Duke Kunshan University, published an article titled “Perceptions, opportunities and barriers of social engagement among the Chinese older adults: a qualitative study” in BMC Geriatrics as corresponding author. The article examined how older individuals in urban China perceive and experience participation in group and community activities, examining the factors that enable or limit their involvement.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with 30 older adults in Taiyuan, the study identified financial stability, health awareness, free time, urban infrastructure, and the availability of organized programs as main factors in encouraging social participation. Financial security, largely due to state pensions, allows many seniors to focus on non-income-generating activities such as travel, exercise, and attending educational courses. The availability of free time after retirement enables them to pursue activities they could not enjoy during their working years, when they faced the dual responsibility of professional life and child-rearing. Access to community facilities, such as parks, fitness equipment, and activity centers, stimulates interactions and creates opportunities for shared activities, such as tai chi and square dancing. The study has also shown the growing recognition among urban seniors of the importance of staying socially and physically active. Many participants linked their involvement in activities to better mental health, reduced loneliness, and even delayed cognitive decline.
However, not all seniors enjoy equal access or opportunities to engage. Physical limitations and chronic illnesses are major deterrents, as mobility issues or health concerns often restrict participation in group activities. Shrinking social networks, due to peers relocating or passing away, further isolate some individuals. Two preventable barriers to social engagement are institutional and societal ageism and low digital literacy. Travel agencies and universities for the elderly sometimes impose age limits for enrollment, while social norms tend to discourage older individuals from pursuing active roles. While most participants have adapted to smartphone use, some of them struggle with tasks such as online registration, which unintentionally excludes them from opportunities that require technological proficiency.
Based on the findings, the authors recommend continuing the development of urban infrastructure, including parks, walking paths, and community centers, to create accessible and inclusive spaces that encourage older adults to engage in social and recreational activities; combating institutional ageism by removing age-based restrictions imposed by organizations, such as travel agencies; and increasing the digital proficiency of older individuals in order to support them in navigating online services such as activity registration.
To fully understand social participation among older adults in China, further research are needed involving rural populations, ethnic minorities, and members of disadvantaged groups.
by Wuyue Qian
Check the full article：https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-024-05629-3
