The association between sports social capital and cognitive health: A longitudinal study of middle-aged and elderly adults in China

This study examines the association between sports social capital and cognitive health in middle-aged and elderly individuals in China. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and deep learning methods, we analyze interactions between sports social capital, cognitive function, and various health behaviors across multiple time points. Findings reveal that baseline cognitive scores and education are key predictors of cognitive health, consistent with cognitive reserve theory. Importantly, education amplifies the benefits of sports social capital, suggesting a synergistic effect that supports cognitive function. Results further show that sports social capital exerts a cumulative effect on cognition, with its influence increasing over time. Unlike general physical activity, sports social capital—formed through social engagement in sports—plays a unique role in sustaining cognitive function. Additionally, it is associated with a reduction in the cognitive risks of smoking and other behaviors, highlighting its potential role as a buffer against health risks. This research extends social capital theory in health contexts and suggests that promoting group sports activities that foster social support networks could serve as an effective intervention. Such policies, particularly among lower-education groups, may help preserve cognitive health within aging populations.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  SSM - population health

• Publication date

  2025-03-01

• Fields of study

  Medicine, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, Education

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.ssmph.2025.101778PMID 40212736PMCID 11982950
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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