Relationship between expectations regarding aging and productive engagement among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

Background This study aims to explore the relationship between expectation regarding aging and productive engagement among community-dwelling older adults. Methods From May 2023 to November 2023, we employed a convenience sampling method to conduct a survey among older adults in a community located in southern Minhang District, Shanghai, China. Data collection utilized the General Information Questionnaire, Productive Engagement Scale, and the Aging Expectations Scale (ERA-21). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Results The community-dwelling older adults exhibited an overall expectation regarding aging score of 42.42 ± 7.36, with subdomain scores of 10.11 ± 2.29 for physical health, 18.37 ± 3.89 for mental health, 6.80 ± 2.30 for cognitive function, and 7.14 ± 2.37 for functional independence. Their productive engagement demonstrated a moderate overall score of 39.84 ± 6.83, comprising family caregiving (39.38 ± 6.55), paid employment (43.90 ± 8.79), and volunteer activities (39.38 ± 6.55). Significant differences in productive engagement were identified across age, marital status, number of children, employment status, living arrangements, income source, monthly income, the number of chronic disease, and activity types ( p < 0.05), Positive correlations observed between productive engagement and all four aging dimensions ( p < 0.05). Regression analyses indicated age as a negative predictor ( B = −1.11, p = 0.050), while number of children and the four aging expectation subdomains were significant positive predictors ( B = 1.705, p = 0.004; B = 0.555, p < 0.001; B = 0.438, p < 0.001; B = 0.675, p < 0.005; B = 0.399, p < 0.001). Conclusion The community-dwelling older adults exhibited moderate levels of both expectation regarding aging and productive engagement, demonstrating potential for enhancement. All four dimensions of aging expectations showed positive correlations with productive engagement and demonstrated predictive capacity for its intensity, suggesting that community administrators could develop interventions targeting expectation regarding aging to optimize productive engagement among older adults, strategically leverage the human resources of older adults, and ultimately facilitate the realization of productive aging.