"Sunlight" illuminates "empty nests": the influence of social participation on the multi-dimensional health of empty-nest elderly in China

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the health of China's empty-nest elderly and the impact of social participation behaviour, quantity and types on their health. METHODS: This national panel data used data from the China Family Panel Studies conducted in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. The relationship between social participation and multidimensional health among empty-nest elderly was examined using a two-way fixed-effects model and instrumental variables. RESULTS: The mean health index for China's empty-nest elderly stands at 0.02, with physical health averaging 0.63, mental health at 26.62, and self-rated health at 2.48. Compared to empty-nest elderly lacking social participation, those with social participation exhibit superior health index, physical health, psychological health, and self-rated health (all P < 0.01). The quantity of social participation correlated with better health index, physical health, mental health, and self-rated health among empty-nest elderly. Economic participation and family participation correlated with better health outcomes among empty-nest elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Social participation has a positive effect on the health of empty-nest elderly. The influence of economic participation and family participation on the health of empty-nest elderly is more prominent.