Determinants of social participation among community-dwelling older adults: A mixed-methods systematic review

Social participation is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes for older adults. However, evidence remains fragmented regarding how determinants vary by participation form and activity type.

This study aimed to (1) identify determinants (barriers and facilitators) of overall social participation based on Social Ecological Model; (2) compare determinants of formal versus informal participation; and (3) examine activity-type-specific determinant patterns across domains of the Social Ecological Model.

PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global were searched from inception to February 19, 2026. Methodological quality was appraised using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Quantitative findings were qualitized and integrated with qualitative evidence. Determinants were coded to levels of the Social Ecological Model and synthesized to produce an overall map, formal-informal comparisons, and activity-type-specific patterns.

Ninety-nine studies were included (93 quantitative, 5 qualitative, and 1 mixed-methods). A total of 127 determinant items was consolidated into 23 domains across micro, meso, exo, and macro levels. Across studies, better physical health/function and psychological resources were predominantly associated with higher social participation, whereas functional limitations, depression/anxiety, and loneliness were associated with lower participation. Supportive interpersonal networks and community opportunity structures generally facilitated participation, while constrained accessibility/opportunity acted as barriers, and several sociodemographic associations were mixed. Seventeen studies tested interaction terms, indicating cross-level effect modification. Formal participation was more dependent on structural resources and institutional opportunities, whereas informal participation was more sensitive to embedded resources and close relational contexts. A five-dimensional radar chart based on the Social Ecological Model summarized three broad activity-specific patterns across domains of determinant involvement.

Social participation among community-dwelling older adults is a multilevel behavior situated within a broader social ecosystem, with systematic heterogeneity by participation form and activity type. Policies and interventions should adopt multilevel, differentiated strategies grounded in the Social Ecological Model aligned with the dominant constraints of the targeted mode and activity.

This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251085456).