Social participation and subjective well-being among older adults: item-level evidence and screening potential in an East Asian aging society

Social participation is a modifiable determinant of healthy aging and has been linked to better mental health and life satisfaction. However, evidence from rapidly aging East Asian societies remains limited, particularly regarding the discriminatory ability of social participation levels to identify older adults at risk of low well-being. This study examined associations between social participation and subjective well-being and evaluated item-level activity patterns among community-dwelling older adults. A cross-sectional study of 1,099 adults aged ≥ 65 years was conducted across rural and semi-rural communities in Taiwan. Subjective well-being was assessed using the WHO-5, and social participation using a multi-dimensional 12-item scale. Group comparisons, multivariable logistic regression, item-level correlations, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed. Older adults with high well-being reported significantly higher social participation than those with low well-being (40.0 ± 9.0 vs. 32.8 ± 9.6, p < 0.001). Social participation independently predicted high well-being after adjusting for age, gender, and living status (AOR = 1.089; 95% CI: 1.07–1.11). ROC analysis showed acceptable discrimination (AUC = 0.707), with an optimal cut-off score of 32 (sensitivity = 85.2%; specificity = 48.4%). All participation items correlated positively with well-being ( p < 0.001), with visiting friends/relatives ( r = 0.307) and health-related activities ( r = 0.298) showing the strongest associations. Higher social participation is strongly associated with better subjective well-being in older adults, particularly through relational and health-oriented activities. Social participation scores may serve as a useful community-based indicator for detecting low well-being. Culturally sensitive interventions that promote meaningful, voluntary, and inclusive participation—alongside structural supports such as transportation and social prescribing—may help enhance psychological well-being in aging East Asian communities.