How does widowhood and social participation impact on the health of older adults: Evidence from a national survey in China

ABSTRACT Social participation significantly contributes to an individual’s wellbeing, and it is particularly crucial for older adults who have lost their spouse. Using cross-sectional data of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2018), this paper employs a logit model to examine the effects of widowhood, social participation, and their interaction on the health of the elderly. The findings indicate that social participation has a more pronounced positive effect on the health of widowed elderly individuals and can mitigate the health problems associated with widowhood. The findings indicate that social participation has a more pronounced positive effect on the health of widowed elderly individuals and can mitigate the health problems associated with widowhood.