The Mediating Effect of Social Networks and Depression on the Relationship Between Older Adults' Participation in Volunteer Activities and Life Satisfaction: A Cross-Sectional Study Involving Chinese Older Adults

Background Volunteer services are increasingly recognized as beneficial for the older adults in China, enhancing life satisfaction through improved social interaction and psychological well-being. However, the specific mechanisms by which volunteer activities influence life satisfaction, particularly through social networks and depressive symptoms, remain unclear. This study aims to address these knowledge gaps and provide insights into how volunteer activities impact well-being in later life. Purpose To examine the relationship between participation in volunteer activities by the older adults and their life satisfaction, focusing on the serial mediation effects of social networks and depressive symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional design was utilized based on the 2020 Chinese Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), involving a cohort of 9,828 individuals aged 60 years and over from across China. The study collected data on the participation of the older adults in volunteer service activities through a structured questionnaire. The social networks of the older adults were measured using the social network scale designed by Lubben. while depressive symptoms and life satisfaction were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and a custom life satisfaction scale, respectively. The analysis employed serial mediation analysis through the bootstrapping method to explore the mediating effects of social networks and depressive symptoms on the relationship between participation in volunteer activities and life satisfaction. Results The study delineates a substantial positive correlation between older adults engagement in volunteer activities and their life satisfaction. This nexus is partially mediated through the augmentation of social networks, which in turn attenuates depressive symptoms, thereby elevating life satisfaction. The research accentuates the paramount importance of social participation and mental health in amplifying the well-being of the older adults demographic. The serial mediation model elucidates a significant linkage between volunteer service participation and life satisfaction, intricately mediated in sequence by social networks and depressive symptoms (total effect c = 0.107, 95% CI = 0.071 to 0.143; direct effect c' = 0.095, 95% CI = 0.060 to 0.130; total indirect effect ab = 0.012, 95% CI = 0.003 to 0.021). Conclusion This study extends the understanding of how volunteer activities enhance life satisfaction through the serial mediating roles of social networks and depressive symptoms. The scientific novelty lies in identifying these mediating mechanisms, contributing to the development of sociological science by emphasizing the importance of social participation and mental health in promoting older adults well-being. These findings provide crucial implications for promoting volunteerism among the older adults to improve their quality of life.