Exploring potential benefits of social participation for work and life outcomes: Drawing on the Health and Retirement Study

Considering the trend of an aging population, it is important that researchers and practitioners aim to optimize and maintain individuals’ wellbeing over the course of their careers and life. Preventative medicine and occupational health research have determined that participation in one’s social environment tends to yield positive outcomes in the realm of cognitive functioning; however, in order to make these findings useful for employees and, by extension, their organizations, determining the nature of such relationships should benefit health and wellbeing research. Therefore, the current research draws on national data from 2018 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to investigate potential drivers of the relationship between social participation and work and life outcomes. Participants (2018 N = 1,933; 2020 N = 1,427) included working individuals aged over 50 years. Findings suggest that sense of control, purpose in life and optimism may play an important role in mediating the influence of social participation on both work ability and life satisfaction. Importantly, results replicated between 2018 and 2020 waves of data. Theoretical and practical implications that have relevance to a broad audience, including researchers, organizations and employees, are offered.