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Aims: This study investigated the relationships between specific types of social participation and well‐being variables (i.e., life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, symptoms of depression and anxiety) in Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. Methods: This study was a cross‐sectional study. A convenience sample of 341 participants aged 55–95 years (mean, 70.92; SD, 9.03) was recruited to complete a survey questionnaire during the COVID‐19 pandemic (between April and June 2022). Five hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between different types of social participation (physical, cultural, recreational, religious, and voluntary work) and outcome variables. Results: After controlling for covariates, it was revealed that only physical activities were associated with all outcome variables. Religious and cultural activities were positively related to positive affect, while an inverse relationship was found between recreational activities and anxiety. Conclusions: With the restrictions on social participation arising from the COVID‐19 pandemic, these findings suggest that promoting different types of social interactions might foster various aspects of well‐being in Chinese older adults. To achieve successful aging, the role of physical activities might be of paramount importance even under adverse situations. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 364–369. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hearing loss and depression in older adults are associated with a lower social participation rate. However, few studies have thoroughly analyzed the relationship between them. Methods: The data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study carried out in 2011, 2013 and 2015, and data from 24 306 participants ranging in age from 50 to 80 years were used in this study. Hearing loss, depression and social participation were assessed by self‐reported hearing status, the 10‐item Center for the Epidemiological Studies of Depression Short Form, and self‐reported social participation activity types and frequency. The fixed effects logistic regression and random effects logistic regression were used to examine the relationship between hearing loss and social participation. The Sobel method was used to explore the relationship between hearing loss, depression and social participation. Results: Compared with older adults without hearing loss, persons with hearing loss engaged in significantly fewer types of activities (β = −0.070, 95% CI −0.109, −0.031, P < 0.001) and at a lower frequency (β = −0.176, 95% CI −0.260, −0.093, P < 0.001). Depression significantly existed in the relationship between hearing loss and social participation as a mediating variable, and the percentage of indirect effects in this relationship were 16.5% and 20.8%. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that when facing an aging society, improving the hearing status of older adults should be considered by policymakers. More efforts should be made to help older adults cope with depression. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 529–535. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The present study aimed to examine effective clinical strategies that facilitate homework adherence among Chinese older adults who participated in group therapy using Instrumental Reminiscence Intervention ( IRI) to reduce depressive symptoms. Methods Examination was based on IRI for 15 groups of older adults, with four to eight participants in each group. Homework assignment was included as a core component of the intervention in each session, except the first session. Particular emphasis was put on both homework design and assignment strategies. Results Two effective strategies were developed. The first was the development of a tactic card as a tool for homework content and assignment. The second strategy was interventionist training. Clinical examples are used to illustrate how these strategies can enhance homework adherence in a Chinese context. Conclusions The two clinical strategies were found to be effective in enhancing homework adherence among Chinese older participants in a group therapy setting. These strategies are recommended for use in group clinical settings for Chinese participants. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1153-1160. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim A U-shaped relationship between body mass index ( BMI) and all-cause mortality has been reported, but there are few studies examining the association between BMI and cause-specific mortality and hospitalization. We carried out a longitudinal study to examine these associations in Chinese older adults with multiple comorbidities, which could provide a reference for the recommended BMI in this population. Methods From 2004 to 2013, a retrospective cohort of Chinese older adults was selected from a geriatric day hospital in Hong Kong. They were divided into groups according to their BMI: BMI <16; BMI 16-18; BMI 18.1-20; BMI 20.1-22; BMI 22.1-24; BMI 24.1-26; BMI 26.1-28; BMI 28.1-30 and BMI >30. Other assessments included medical, functional, cognitive, social and nutritional assessment. Results A total of 1747 older adults (mean age 80.8 ± 7.1 years, 44.1% male, 46.1% living in nursing homes, Charlson Comorbidity Index 2.0 ± 1.6) with a median follow up of 3.5 years were included. Older adults with BMI 24-28 had the lowest all-cause, infection-related and cardiovascular mortality ( P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that there was an inverted J-shaped association between BMI and hazard ratio for all-cause and infection-related mortality in both nursing home and community-dwelling older adults. The rate of all-cause hospitalization was lower in older adults with BMI 22-28 ( P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that there was an inverted J-shaped association between the odds ratio of recurrent hospitalization and BMI. Conclusion Chinese older adults with BMI 24-28 had lower all-cause mortality, infection-related mortality, cardiovascular-related mortality and all-cause hospitalization. This study provides a reference for the recommended BMI in this population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; 15 72-79. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]