The impact of the elderly productive activities on cognitive function--the meditating effect of depression.

Objective To explore the impact of productive activities on cognitive function and to explore the mediating role of depression between productive activities and cognitive function. Methods Using the 2013, 2015 and 2018 data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, the Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) was used to explore the effects of productive activities on cognitive function by fixing time and provincial effects. The Bootstrap method was used to verify the mediating effect of depression. Results The direct effect of productive activities on cognitive function was 0. 187(95% CI: 0. 072-0. 302), the mediating effect of depression was 0. 025 (95% CI: 0. 005-0. 045), and the mediating effect accounted for 11. 8%. The elderly people who engaged in productive activities achieved 18. 8% higher cognitive function scores than those who do not engaged in. Among the types of productive activities, taking care of grandchildren(f3 = 0. 185, P < 0. 01 ) and volunteering (3 = 0. 474, P = 0. 025) had a positive and significant impact on cognitive function, while re-employment showed a negative and significant impact(3 = -0. 109,P =0. 047). Conclusion: Productive activities have a positive and significant impact on cognitive function, via reducing the degree of depression to protecting cognitive function. Depression plays a partial mediating effect between productive activities and cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]