Exploring Latent Trajectories of Social Participation Among Chinese Grandparenting Older Adults: A Growth Mixture Model Approach

This study examined trajectories and determinants of social participation among Chinese grandparenting older adults using longitudinal data from 626 community-dwelling participants (2022 -2025). Growth mixture modeling identified high-stable (32.9%), medium-increasing (48.7%), and low-decreasing (18.4%) trajectories. Time-fixed age, gender, and financial support predicted trajectory membership. Time-varying factors positively associated with increased social participation included improved self-rated health, self-care ability, community service use, and grandchildren’s positive development; declining cognitive function, worsening depressive symptoms, heavier grandchild care responsibilities, and more behavioral problems in grandchildren were negatively associated. Findings support trajectory-specific policies prioritizing the low-decreasing group through integrated financial, health, caregiving, and community interventions.