关键词: 年龄认知, 感知老年标准, 社会参与, 健康状况, 社会适应性

Abstract: Using data from the 2018 and 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS), this study defines age identity by comparing perceived old age with chronological age and measures social participation across economic, volunteer, religious, and leisure activities. We employ the instrumental variable method to explore the impact of age identity on the social participation of older adults. The results show that positive age identity significantly promotes the social participation of older adults, primarily by improving their health and strengthening their social adaptability. This increase in social participation is most evident in economic, volunteer, and leisure activities. The impact of positive age identity on social participation is more pronounced among older women than among older men. A higher level of positive age identity is associated with increased social participation among older adults aged 60 to 69 years old. However, when the level of positive age perception is higher, it has no significant effect on social participation among older adults aged 70 to 79 years old.

Keywords: Age Identity, Perceived Old Age, Social Participation, Health Status, Social Adaptation