AUTHOR=Song Keying , Chang Yawen , Zhao Zijian , Govindasamy Karuppasamy 

TITLE=Leisure activities, self-reported health, anxiety, and depression in Chinese older adults: a structural equation model analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1459236

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1459236

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the interrelationships among leisure activities, self-reported health (SRH), anxiety, and depression in Chinese older adults using structural equation modeling (SEM).MethodsData from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed and 9,859 older adults were included in the analysis. The SEM was employed to examine the direct and indirect effects of leisure activities on depression through SRH and anxiety.ResultsLeisure activities significantly positively influenced SRH (β = 0.18, p < 0.001) and negatively affected depression (β = −0.16, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = −0.09, p < 0.001). SRH decreased depression (β = −0.33, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = −0.33, p < 0.001), while anxiety increased depression (β = 0.49, p < 0.001). SRH and anxiety mediated the relationship between leisure activities and depression.ConclusionThe findings support the proposed model and suggest that promoting leisure activities can improve mental health in Chinese older adults.