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Social Participation, Cognitive Health, and Mental Health in Thai Older Adults: Insights from the HART National Panel During the covid-19 Pandemic.

This cross-sectional study examined associations between mental health, social participation, and cognitive function among 3,607 Thai older adults using data from Wave 4 of the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) project, collected in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling for d...

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Published in:Journal of Gerontological Social Work Vol. 69; no. 5; pp. 790 - 813
Main Authors: Chen, I-Chun, Phanumartwiwath, Anuchit
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jul2026
Subjects:
Thailand
Social participation
Cognitive ability
Mental health
Mental depression
COVID-19 pandemic
Older people
Community-based programs
Thai people
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:This cross-sectional study examined associations between mental health, social participation, and cognitive function among 3,607 Thai older adults using data from Wave 4 of the Health, Aging, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) project, collected in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling for demographics, hierarchical regression revealed higher depressive symptoms (CES-D-10) linked to lower cognitive performance. Formal social participation showed a modest buffering effect (β = 0.008, p =.002), despite an adverse main effect (β = -0.012, p <.001), likely from pandemic-related restrictions. Social networks had a positive partial correlation (r = 0.082, p <.001). Results advocate community-based interventions, including virtual formats, to support cognitive resilience.