The relationship between social participation and smoking among middle-aged and elderly persons in China

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between social participation and smoking among middle-aged and elderly persons. This study used a secondary dataset drawn from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS,2015). In this nationally survey, the number of observations was 9,876. The dependent variable used in this study is smoking and non-smoking. Smoking includes light smoking, moderate, and heavy smoking. The explanatory variables are family factors, demographic characteristics, and socioeconomic factors. Factors associated with smoking were examined with logistic regression model.

The results showed that gender, marital status, health self-assessment, pension, chronic disease, playing Mahjong, playing chess, playing cards, or going to the community club, going to a sport, social, or other kinds of the club, using the Internet are the influencing factors of middle-aged and elderly smoking. Middle-aged and elderly who played Mahjong, played chess, played cards, or went to community club are risk factors for smoking (p<0.001). Middle-aged and elderly people who played Mahjong, played chess, played cards, or went to community club are 1.34 times more likely to smoke than non-smokers. (OR=1.342316). Middle-aged and elderly people who went to a sport, social or other kinds of clubs are protective factors for smoking(p=0.022). Middle-aged and elderly people who went to a sport, social or other kinds of clubs are 0.79 times more likely to smoke than non-smokers (OR=0.7941856). Middle-aged and elderly who used the Internet are risk factors for smoking(p=0.024). Middle-aged and elderly people who used the Internet are 1.31 times more likely to smoke than non-smokers. (OR=1.314805). The impact of other social participation on smoking among middle-aged and elderly people are not statistically significant at 5% significance level. The results altogether indicated a clear relationship between social participation and smoking.

It is necessary to distinguish which social participation is beneficial to middle-aged and older people's physical and mental health, in which social participation is a risk factor for a healthy lifestyle for middle-aged and elderly people. The community should promote a healthy lifestyle for middle-aged and older people. Post signs of smoking hazards in the community, for example. Increase investment in community cultural facilities to provide more suitable places for middle-aged and older people. Health departments and government departments should actively cooperate in the tobacco control plan and implementation.