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Does social participation improve cognitive abilities of the elderly?

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  • Shu Cai

    (Jinan University)

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of social participation on cognitive performance using data from a longitudinal survey of the elderly in China. It addresses the problem of endogenous participation by exploiting the variation in changes in social participation that are driven by changes in community service for social activities. The results show that participating in social activities has significantly positive impacts on cognitive function among the elderly. The point estimates indicate that engaging in social activity raises cognitive scores by 29% of a standard deviation.

Suggested Citation

  • Shu Cai, 2022. "Does social participation improve cognitive abilities of the elderly?," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(2), pages 591-619, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:35:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s00148-020-00817-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-020-00817-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Cai, Shu & Li, Wei, 2024. "On the origin of cognition: How childhood conditions shape cognitive function in old age," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive function; Social participation; Ageing; Elderly;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East

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