Social engagement and wellbeing in late life: a systematic review

Abstract

Social engagement is considered a relevant modifiable factor for older adults' wellbeing. Theory and policies highlight its importance for ageing well. Empirical evidence shows that social activities are associated with positive psychological outcomes and might buffer wellbeing declines in late life. Despite growing research, social engagement lacks conceptual clarity, it is difficult to adopt standardised measures and findings are sometimes inconsistent. Previous systematic reviews either take a different approach to this topic or were published over a decade ago. Therefore, the present study aimed to review the literature systematically regarding the relationship between social engagement and wellbeing in community-dwelling older adults. Papers published from 2000 to 2021 were searched in five databases using a combination of terms. The reviewers screened the records according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After identifying eligible articles, the authors extracted data and produced a narrative synthesis covering conceptualisation, measurement and main findings. The review includes 42 papers. Despite great conceptual and methodological diversity, research supports that older adults with higher participation in social activities have improved wellbeing. Findings also suggest that these associations are stronger for individuals with disadvantages and have a cumulative nature whereby the greater the social engagement, the higher the wellbeing. Conversely, for more demanding activities, there might be optimal participation levels. Regardless of accumulating knowledge, social engagement remains diffuse and difficult to measure. This paper summarises the current state of research on this topic, showing encouraging evidence of social engagement benefits, but also questions that deserve further inquiry. Future studies should be anchored in a clear conceptual framework, use robust measures, and explore hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Social engagement can be an important developmental resource for social interventions and policies aimed at improving people's lives.