The effects of living arrangements and leisure activities on depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults: Evidence from panel data analysis

Livable environment and ways, as the necessary conditions for the elderly to enjoy their old age, have a significant impact on their mental health and happiness. It's crucial to understand how living arrangements affect depressive symptoms in China. Studies on how various leisure activities modify this association are yet limited. This study relies on panel data derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), collected during waves spanning 2008/2009, 2011/2012, 2014, and 2018. The primary objective is to examine the relationship between living arrangements, leisure activities, and depressive symptoms of elderly individuals. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the data. A total of 26,342 observations aged 65 and over were included in this paper. Older adults living alone (β = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.55, 0.76) or living in institutions (β = 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.40, 0.98) had more depressive symptoms than those living with family. Leisure activities were negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = −0.16, 95 % CI: −0.18, −0.15). Moreover, there was significant interactions between living arrangements and leisure activities. No matter which kind of living arrangements, participating in physical, productive or social activity was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. Study design might introduce bias, and it cannot establish causality between the tested variables. Older adults living alone or in institutions have more possibility to develop depressive symptoms than those living with family, and such a relationship among Chinese older adults can be moderated by participating in leisure activities.