“Pleasure from work”: Labor participation and subjective well-being among older adults in rural China

Productive engagement in later life is a key predictor of subjective well-being (SWB) and a global strategic response to population aging challenges. Rural productive aging is an expansion of the connotation of productive aging in the cross-cultural framework. Using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2013, 2015 and 2018), this study examines the relationship between labor participation and SWB among rural older adults in China. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression revealed a significant positive association between labor participation and SWB. Regardless of working hours, positive effects were observed, with low-intensity participation proving most beneficial. As participation intensity increased, this positive impact gradually diminished. Compared to those who never work, individuals who keep working report higher SWB. We employed several methods (PSM, fixed-effect model and IV) to address endogeneity issues and robustness tests. The KHB method identified the mediation mechanisms: self-rated health (73.46%), economic income (10.07%), and social interactions (5.60%). These findings demonstrate that rural older adults have productive value, which is an effective way to improve SWB. The study provides evidence-based guidance for policies addressing population aging in rural contexts.