Determinants of social health in later life: the roles of family integration, social participation, and psychosocial well-being
Abstract
Introduction Population aging has intensified scholarly attention towards the social dimensions of well-being in later life. While previous research has largely emphasized physical health and economic security, social health—reflecting individuals’ ability to maintain meaningful relationships and social participation—remains comparatively underexplored, particularly among older adults in rural communities. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates how family integration, social participation, and psychosocial well-being contribute to social health in later life. Methods We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional survey of 386 adults aged ≥60 years. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that measured family integration, social participation, psychosocial well-being, and social health, each operationalized through multi-item Likert-type scales. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis were employed to examine the relationships among the study variables. Results The findings indicate that all three determinants significantly predict social health among older adults. Social participation emerged as the strongest predictor (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), followed by family integration (β = 0.29, p < 0.001) and psychosocial well-being (β = 0.27, p < 0.001). The regression model explained a substantial proportion of the variance in social health (R2 = 0.337), suggesting that relational and psychosocial resources play a critical role in shaping social well-being in later life. Discussion The results highlight that interactions among family relationships, community engagement, and psychological resources shape social health in later life. Strengthening opportunities for social participation, reinforcing family support networks, and promoting psychosocial resilience may therefore represent key strategies for enhancing social well-being among the aging population.