The relationship between leisure involvement and social inclusion among Chinese older adults: the mediating roles of flow experience and fear of missing out

Introduction This study examined the association between leisure involvement (LI) and social inclusion (SI) among Chinese older adults, with particular attention to the mediating roles of flow experience (FE) and fear of missing out (FoMO). Methods Data were collected from 432 older adults aged 55 years and above through community-based surveys in Zhejiang Province, China, supplemented by online questionnaires. Validated scales were used to measure LI, FE, FoMO, and SI. Mediation analyses were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS macro with bias-corrected bootstrap procedures. Results LI was positively associated with SI. FE showed a significant positive indirect effect, whereas FoMO showed a significant negative indirect effect. Discussion These findings suggest that leisure involvement may promote social inclusion through differentiated emotional pathways, characterized by enhanced positive experiential states and reduced socially driven anxiety. The results highlight the potential value of community-based leisure programs in promoting emotional well-being and strengthening social participation among older adults.