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When More Is Not Better: Threshold Effects of Social Participation on Well-Being Among Community-Dwelling Older
1Aging Health and Long-Term Care Management for Indigenous Undergraduate Program, National Chi Nan University, Nantou, Taiwan.
Abstract:
BackgroundSocial participation benefits are often assumed to increase linearly. This study examined potential nonlinear effects and age differences among rural older adults in Taiwan.MethodsData from 1,100 community-dwelling older adults (WHO-5 well-being) and administrative participation logs were analyzed using threshold regression and age-moderated models.ResultsA threshold-like pattern emerged: well-being remained stable at low-to-moderate engagement but was lower in communities with higher program intensity (>150 annual hours) in this sample. This negative association appeared among young-old adults (65-79) but not old-old adults (≥80).ConclusionParticipation intensity may not increase well-being indefinitely. Findings suggest an approximate inflection range where well-being remains stable, highlighting the need for age-responsive and autonomy-supportive programming. While longitudinal research is needed to confirm causal pathways, community centers should consider sustainable scheduling to optimize well-being.
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