Social Participation, Cognitive Health, and Mental Health in Thai Older Adults: Insights from the HART National Panel During the covid-19 Pandemic

J Gerontol Soc Work. 2025 Aug 11:1-23. doi: 10.1080/01634372.2025.2545475. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study examined associations between mental health, social participation, and cognitive function among 3,607 Thai older adults using data from Wave 4 of the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) project, collected in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling for demographics, hierarchical regression revealed higher depressive symptoms (CES-D-10) linked to lower cognitive performance. Formal social participation showed a modest buffering effect (β = 0.008, p = .002), despite an adverse main effect (β = -0.012, p < .001), likely from pandemic-related restrictions. Social networks had a positive partial correlation (r = 0.082, p < .001). Results advocate community-based interventions, including virtual formats, to support cognitive resilience.

PMID:40788691 | DOI:10.1080/01634372.2025.2545475