Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults

Abstract Background Previous studies have primarily examined the impact of a particular type of productive activity on the health of older adults. However, older adults' activity participation is multifaceted and simultaneous, and it is relatively unknown what patterns of productive aging will...

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Main Author: Zexi Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23688-y
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author Zexi Su
author_facet Zexi Su
author_sort Zexi Su
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Previous studies have primarily examined the impact of a particular type of productive activity on the health of older adults. However, older adults' activity participation is multifaceted and simultaneous, and it is relatively unknown what patterns of productive aging will affect the health of older people in urban areas of China. The mechanisms linking them have also not been thoroughly explored. This study identified the patterns of productive aging among urban Chinese older adults and tested whether the latent classes were associated with their health. Methods This study analyzed 1,258 urban older adults from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. Patterns of participation in productive activities among urban older adults were first investigated using latent class analysis (LCA). Then, explore associations between the patterns and health using linear regression models and an automatic Bolck, Croon, and Hagenaars (BCH) approach. Results Older adults' participation in productive activities in Chinese cities can be divided into three patterns: informal activities, caregiving-social-leisure, and caregiving-centered. Informal activities pattern have the best health outcomes. Conclusions This study identified heterogeneity in the participation of productive activities among older adults in urban China and revealed their co-occurring patterns. This information is critical for tailoring interventions and designing programs that can improve the health of urban older adults and provide valuable insights for follow-up research and policy formulation.
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spelling doaj-art-c4c79b71fef94331bb5c8f398e9c97012025-08-20T04:02:50ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-23688-yProductive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adultsZexi Su0School of Social Development, Shandong Women’s UniversityAbstract Background Previous studies have primarily examined the impact of a particular type of productive activity on the health of older adults. However, older adults' activity participation is multifaceted and simultaneous, and it is relatively unknown what patterns of productive aging will affect the health of older people in urban areas of China. The mechanisms linking them have also not been thoroughly explored. This study identified the patterns of productive aging among urban Chinese older adults and tested whether the latent classes were associated with their health. Methods This study analyzed 1,258 urban older adults from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey. Patterns of participation in productive activities among urban older adults were first investigated using latent class analysis (LCA). Then, explore associations between the patterns and health using linear regression models and an automatic Bolck, Croon, and Hagenaars (BCH) approach. Results Older adults' participation in productive activities in Chinese cities can be divided into three patterns: informal activities, caregiving-social-leisure, and caregiving-centered. Informal activities pattern have the best health outcomes. Conclusions This study identified heterogeneity in the participation of productive activities among older adults in urban China and revealed their co-occurring patterns. This information is critical for tailoring interventions and designing programs that can improve the health of urban older adults and provide valuable insights for follow-up research and policy formulation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23688-yProductive agingSelf-rated healthFunctional healthDepressionOlder adults
spellingShingle Zexi Su
Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
BMC Public Health
Productive aging
Self-rated health
Functional health
Depression
Older adults
title Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
title_full Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
title_fullStr Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
title_full_unstemmed Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
title_short Productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among Chinese urban older adults
title_sort productive aging patterns and associations with health outcomes among chinese urban older adults
topic Productive aging
Self-rated health
Functional health
Depression
Older adults
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23688-y
work_keys_str_mv AT zexisu productiveagingpatternsandassociationswithhealthoutcomesamongchineseurbanolderadults