A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis of Social Participation in the Relationship Between Functional Limitations and Cognitive Functioning: Evidence From CHARLS.

Functional limitations refer to the dependency to perform activities of daily living. Increasing evidence has demonstrated a bidirectional association between functional limitations and cognitive functioning, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated whether social participation bidirectionally mediates the association between functional limitations and cognitive decline. We analyzed a sample of 16,385 middle-aged and older adults (aged over 50 years) using longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS; Waves 1-4). We utilized a cross-lagged panel model to examine the bidirectional mediation of social participation between functional limitations and cognitive functioning over a span of eight years. The results indicated that social participation bidirectionally and partially mediated the relationship between the onset of functional limitations and cognitive decline, indicating that social participation may play an important role in mitigating the disablement process.

Personal Competence or Environmental Characteristics? Factors Influencing Happiness among Ageing Adults in Hong Kong Around the Period of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Drawing upon person-environment fit perspective, this study examines the joint and interactive influences of personal competence and environmental characteristics on the happiness of ageing adults around the period of COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected in two rounds, before and during the pandemic, with 2,028 participants aged 55 years and older in Hong Kong. Personal competence encompassed financial status, physical health, and mental capital, while environmental characteristics included experiences of ageism, perceived social conditions, and age-friendly policies. Ordinary least squares regression was used to examine personal and environmental influences on happiness. Results indicated a significant decline in happiness following the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. Mental capital was found to have the strongest positive influence on happiness, followed by physical health, financial status, and social conditions. Mental capital mitigated the negative relationship between experiences of ageism and happiness. Practical interventions are informed to improve the well-being of ageing adults during pandemic.