Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the central symptom within the depression network and examined the relationship between social activities and depressive symptoms among migrant middle-aged and older adults in China. METHODS: We analyzed data from 1,926 migrants aged 45 and older, derived from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Using network analysis, we identified the central depressive symptom and assessed the association between various social activities and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: Network analysis revealed that depressed mood was the most central symptom. Regarding mitigation of depressive symptoms, informal social activities predominantly influenced positive emotions and somatic symptoms. Formal activities were mainly revealed through positive emotions. Solitary activities were manifested primarily through positive emotions and somatic symptoms. In addition, informal and solitary activities showed a stronger correlation with the alleviation of depressive symptoms compared to formal activities. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the importance of addressing depressed mood in treating depression among migrant middle-aged and older adults. Recognizing the differential impacts of various social activities can aid in the development of customized prevention and intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of this demographic in China.