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The roles of meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking in the association between social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults: A moderated mediation model.

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Title: The roles of meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking in the association between social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults: A moderated mediation model.
Authors: Song, Kuai (AUTHOR), Ang, Chin-Siang (AUTHOR), Gu, Zhang-Hua (AUTHOR), He, Dan (AUTHOR), Chan, Nee-Nee (AUTHOR), Niu, Geng-Feng (AUTHOR), Ooi, Pei Boon (AUTHOR), Zhou, Zong-Kui (AUTHOR)
Source: Educational Gerontology. Feb2026, Vol. 52 Issue 2, p166-179. 14p.
Subjects: Pearson correlation (Statistics), Research funding, Questionnaires, Judgment sampling, Descriptive statistics, Surveys, Quality of life, Rural conditions, Metropolitan areas, Field research, Data analysis software, Confidence intervals, Factor analysis, Psychological tests, Social isolation, Mental depression, Thought & thinking
Geographic Terms: China
Abstract: The study examines the potential mechanisms underlying the association between social isolation and depression among Chinese older adults, focusing on meaning in life as a mediating factor and Zhong-Yong thinking style as a moderating factor. Zhong Yong thinking, rooted in traditional Chinese culture, emphasizes holistic balance and harmony in life. A total of 561 Chinese older adults (M = 69.96 ± 6.62; 286 male; 275 female) were recruited using purposive sampling from urban and rural areas of Hubei Province, China. Participants completed measures adapted for the Social Isolation Subscale, the Chinese version of the Meaning in Life questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Zhong-Yong Thinking Style Scale. Meaning in life was found to mediate the association between social isolation and depression, and Zhong-Yong thinking moderated the mediating role of meaning in life, with higher levels of Zhong-Yong thinking associated with a weaker negative relationship between social isolation and meaning in life. These findings align with previous research highlighting the strong association between social isolation and depression in older adults. Zhong-Yong thinking may support older adults in maintaining meaning in life, potentially mitigating the influence of social isolation on depressive symptoms. The study underscores the value of culturally relevant strategies for addressing depression and suggests directions for prevention and intervention programs tailored to the needs of older adults. Incorporating meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking into mental health interventions could provide culturally sensitive approaches to addressing social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults. Emphasizing traditional cultural values may promote resilience and well-being in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Educational Gerontology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The roles of meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking in the association between social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults: A moderated mediation model.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Song%2C+Kuai%22">Song, Kuai</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ang%2C+Chin-Siang%22">Ang, Chin-Siang</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gu%2C+Zhang-Hua%22">Gu, Zhang-Hua</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22He%2C+Dan%22">He, Dan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chan%2C+Nee-Nee%22">Chan, Nee-Nee</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Niu%2C+Geng-Feng%22">Niu, Geng-Feng</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ooi%2C+Pei+Boon%22">Ooi, Pei Boon</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Zong-Kui%22">Zhou, Zong-Kui</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: The study examines the potential mechanisms underlying the association between social isolation and depression among Chinese older adults, focusing on meaning in life as a mediating factor and Zhong-Yong thinking style as a moderating factor. Zhong Yong thinking, rooted in traditional Chinese culture, emphasizes holistic balance and harmony in life. A total of 561 Chinese older adults (M = 69.96 ± 6.62; 286 male; 275 female) were recruited using purposive sampling from urban and rural areas of Hubei Province, China. Participants completed measures adapted for the Social Isolation Subscale, the Chinese version of the Meaning in Life questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Zhong-Yong Thinking Style Scale. Meaning in life was found to mediate the association between social isolation and depression, and Zhong-Yong thinking moderated the mediating role of meaning in life, with higher levels of Zhong-Yong thinking associated with a weaker negative relationship between social isolation and meaning in life. These findings align with previous research highlighting the strong association between social isolation and depression in older adults. Zhong-Yong thinking may support older adults in maintaining meaning in life, potentially mitigating the influence of social isolation on depressive symptoms. The study underscores the value of culturally relevant strategies for addressing depression and suggests directions for prevention and intervention programs tailored to the needs of older adults. Incorporating meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking into mental health interventions could provide culturally sensitive approaches to addressing social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults. Emphasizing traditional cultural values may promote resilience and well-being in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Educational Gerontology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03601277.2025.2479662
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 166
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Pearson correlation (Statistics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surveys
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quality of life
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural conditions
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      – SubjectFull: Metropolitan areas
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      – SubjectFull: Field research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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      – SubjectFull: Confidence intervals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Factor analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social isolation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thought & thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The roles of meaning in life and Zhong-Yong thinking in the association between social isolation and depression in Chinese older adults: A moderated mediation model.
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              Text: Feb2026
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              Y: 2026
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