Contributory and Developmental Social Participation and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults in China: Urban–Rural and Gender Disparities *

Background: Social participation is a critical determinant of mental health in later life, yet the heterogeneity of participation types and their differential impacts remains under-explored. This study proposes a contributory–developmental framework to categorize social participation and examines their distinct associations with depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2020 wave of the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS, N = 7,443 retired older adults). OLS regression and moderation models assessed subgroup differences. Robustness checks using the 2018 wave confirmed the results. Results: Most participation types were linked to lower depressive symptoms, but intergenerational domestic support was associated with higher levels. An urban–rural paradox emerged: rural older adults engaged more in contributory participation but gained fewer mental health benefits than urban counterparts, whereas they reported greater improvements in depressive symptoms from developmental participation despite lower involvement. Gender disparities were evident: men were more engaged in beneficial activities such as post-retirement work, while women bore heavier family caregiving responsibilities. Discussion： Social participation plays a vital role in reducing depressive symptoms in later life. Recognizing heterogeneity across participation types and subgroups is essential. Policies should provide tailored, inclusive mechanisms to support diverse forms of participation among older adults.