title: Participation in productive activities and health outcomes among older adults in urban China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether participating in productive activities was associated with better health outcomes among older adults in urban China, including analysis of potential gender differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a sample of 10,016 urban Chinese adults aged 60 years or older from the 2006 Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban/Rural China, we regressed measures of self-rated health, functional health, and depression on productive activities (paid employment, helping with family, and volunteering), controlling for sociodemographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Those who provided assistance to family members or volunteered had significantly lower levels of depression and better functional and self-rated health than their counterparts. Older adults with paid job, providing family assistance, or volunteering reported significantly lower levels of depression and better functional and self-rated health than those without those activities. However, only older men with paid employment reported significantly less depression, and the effect of family assistance on functional health also differed by gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As research increasingly demonstrates the role of productive activities in maintaining health among older adults, our findings can help practitioners or policy makers strategically select or develop health programs to promote productive activities among older adults in urban China.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, San Diego State University, California. yli@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors.forename: Yawen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: China Research Center on Aging, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002654:Child Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012179:Retirement / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D058992:Social Participation; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Chinese; Depression; Physical health; Productive aging