How Perceived Ageism Affects Cognitive Function in Chinese Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Social Participation and Depression

Background Perceived ageism has been increasingly identified as a critical psychosocial risk factor negatively affecting cognitive health among older adults. However, the psychosocial pathways linking perceived ageism to cognitive function remain insufficiently explored. In particular, how social participation and depressive symptoms jointly mediate this relationship in the Chinese cultural context has yet to be clarified. Methods A survey was conducted among 501 Chinese adults aged 60 years and older in Wuhan communities. First, we present the basic sociodemographic characteristics of the study sample. Second, Spearman correlation analysis was employed to examine the associations between perceived ageism, social participation, depression, and cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Finally, a sequential multiple mediation analysis was performed using the SPSS macro process. Results A chain mediation model revealed that perceived ageism exerted both direct and indirect effects on cognitive function in older adults. It directly impaired cognitive performance while also operating through the mediating roles of social participation and depressive symptoms. Bootstrap analysis confirmed a significant total indirect effect, identifying three specific pathways: through reduced social participation, through increased depressive symptoms, and through the sequential pathway of reduced social participation leading to increased depressive symptoms. The findings underscore that perceived ageism harms cognitive function not only directly but also by diminishing social engagement and exacerbating depressive symptoms. Limitations This study has several limitations. First, all measures were based on self-reported data, which may be subject to reporting biases. Second, the sample size was relatively small and drawn from a limited geographical distribution, which may affect the generalizability of the findings and could introduce potential biases in some results. Future research should employ larger, more nationally representative samples to validate these findings. Furthermore, subsequent investigations would benefit from exploring more detailed and specific mechanisms through which perceived ageism affects cognitive function in older adults. Conclusions Our findings indicate that reduced perceived ageism may enhance cognitive function among older adults in Chinese communities through increased social participation and decreased depression. These results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing perceived ageism could yield significant benefits for both mental health and cognitive functioning in this population.