Neighborhood Social Environment and Participation in Productive Activities Among Chinese Older Adults

Background and Purpose: Productive activity engagement among older adults has received growing attention as productive activity has been recognized as an essential component of healthy and active aging. However, the influence of neighborhood environmental factors on productive activities participation among older adults are largely overlooked. This study aims to examine the impact of neighborhood social environment on Chinese older adults’ participation in productive activities.

Methods: We analyzed data recently collected from a random sample of adults aged 55 and older living in Shanghai, China. Respondents were sampled through a stratified multistage probability sampling design. A total of 900 were sampled and 721 from 36 neighborhoods completed the survey, yielding an overall response rate of 80.11%. Three forms of productive activities participation were examined: paid employment, volunteering, and providing assistance to family. Each variable was measured individually as a binary dummy variable, indicating whether the event occurred or not. Neighborhood social environment was measured based on 32 items of services provided to older adults in the neighborhoods. Item values were summed up, with higher scores indicating higher levels of supportive neighborhood social environment. Socio-demographics and health status were served as controls. Two-level random intercept logistic regression models that account for clustering of subjects within neighborhoods were employed for the study.

Results: We found that older adults living in a neighborhood with higher level of supportive environment were more likely to volunteer, controlling for individual socio-demographic characteristics and health status (OR=1.05; 95%CI: 1.02–1.09). Furthermore, the effect of supportive neighborhood social environment on volunteering was more pronounced for female older adults (OR=1.07; 95%CI: 1.01, 1.14).

Conclusions and Implications: The results highlight the significance of neighborhood environmental factors in shaping productive activities participation among older adults. Policies or interventions aimed to improve neighborhood social environment might encourage Chinese older people to engage in volunteering.