Demoralization profiles and their association with active aging in Chinese older adults with disabilities: a latent profile analysis

Objective To identify latent profiles of demoralization among older adults with disabilities, analyze their influencing factors, and examine their associations with active aging. Methods From February to July 2025, a convenience sample of 411 older adults with disabilities was recruited from a tertiary hospital in Anhui Province, China. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Demoralization Scale, and the Active Aging Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed based on demoralization subscale scores. Univariate and multinominal analyses were employed to investigate the influencing factors, and the Kruskal–Wallis H test was used to compare differences in active aging levels across the profiles. Results The prevalence of demoralization syndrome was 49.1%. LPA identified three distinct profiles: the Well-Adapted Group (53.3%), the Disheartened-Helpless Group (23.8%), and the Fully Demoralized Group (22.9%). The Kruskal–Wallis H test revealed significant differences among the profiles ( p < 0.001), indicating a negative correlation between active aging levels and demoralization severity. The Fully Demoralized Group scored significantly lower on active aging than the other two groups. Conclusion Nearly half of the older adults with disabilities experienced demoralization, with heterogeneous subgroups identified. The active aging status of demoralized subgroups requires urgent attention. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions tailored to the characteristics of each profile to improve mental health and promote active aging in this population.