Social Contact and Health among Chinese Older Adults in China

Abstract

Social contact is important for successful aging. Numerous studies have established that close connections to and participation in social groups and communities provide support, increase a sense of belonging and access to information that can be key for physical and mental health. Compared with numerous findings on social engagement and health in Western world, empirical evidence in the research area from non-Western settings is limited. Using a nationwide representative sample of older adults in China, this study continues efforts along this line by studying how social contact influence mental and physical health among Chinese older adults. The findings suggest that increasing social contact has a positive relationship with physical and mental health among Chinese elders.