Volunteering, Social Trust, and Life Satisfaction in China's Young-Old Population: Urban-Rural Disparities

Аннотация

This study investigates the relationship CITATION between volunteering, social trust, and life satisfaction among the "young-old" (aged 60-74) in China, with a particular focus on urban-rural differences. As China COPYRIGHT © 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms undergoes rapid socio-economic changes, of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License. understanding the determinants of life satisfaction for older adults is increasingly important. Volunteering, social trust, and life satisfaction are interconnected factors that influence the well-being of older individuals, yet the effects of these factors might vary between urban and rural populations. Using survey data from a nationally representative sample of young-old individuals, this study explores how volunteering behaviors and social trust affect their life satisfaction across different geographical contexts. Keywords: Volunteering, Social Trust, Life Satisfaction, Young-Old, Urban-Rural Differences, Elderly Population, China. Introduction: China, as the world's most populous country, is experiencing a dramatic demographic shift with an increasing number of elderly individuals, particularly the "young-old" demographic, which consists of those between the ages of 60 and 74. This age group represents a significant portion of the aging population, which is expected to continue to grow in the coming decades. Life satisfaction is an important aspect of quality of life, especially among older adults. The factors that influence life satisfaction, such as social engagement, volunteering, and social trust, have received increasing attention in research over the past decade. Volunteering has been shown to provide older adults Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals 01 https://eipublication.com/index.php/jsshrf Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals with a sense of purpose and social connection, which life satisfaction in urban and rural settings. can enhance their psychological well-being. Similarly,