Volume 3 · Issue 3 (2026)
The Association Between Volunteer Service Participation and Perceived Health Decline in Older Adults: Evidence from China
Yuqian Li*
Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, Guangdong, China
Corresponding Author: Yuqian Li (li_yuqian0424@163.com)
Abstract: Against the backdrop of accelerating population aging in China, where the population aged 60 and above reached 323.38 million (23.0% of the total population) by 2025, this study systematically examines the impact of volunteer service participation on perceived health decline among Chinese older adults, along with its age heterogeneity and underlying mediating mechanisms. Based on 9,175 nationally representative valid samples from the 2023 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), we conduct empirical analysis via baseline ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, age-stratified regression, and Bootstrap mediating effect tests. The results show that volunteer service participation significantly alleviates older adults’ perceived health decline, with a more pronounced protective effect for adults aged 70 and above. Self-efficacy plays a significant partial mediating role in this association, with the indirect effect accounting for 15.57% of the total effect. This study enriches the dynamic research on elderly subjective health and provides solid empirical evidence for optimizing elderly volunteer service systems and advancing China’s active aging national strategy.
Keywords: Volunteer Service Participation; Perceived Health Decline; Older Adults
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