Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background Social participation is a key component of healthy and active aging and is closely associated with psychological well-being and quality of life in later life. Although previous studies have demonstrated associations between personality traits and social engagement, the psychological mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear. In particular, the role of perceived emotional needs as a potential mediator has received limited empirical attention. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years or older in Dongguan, China (N = 1332), using a stratified cluster sampling approach. Personality traits were assessed using the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory Brief Version, whereas perceived emotional needs and social participation were measured using self-report instruments adapted from prior theoretical and empirical work. The internal consistency of the measures was evaluated in the present sample. Pearson correlation analyses and multiple linear regression models were used to examine associations among the study variables. Mediation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro with 5,000 bootstrap resamples, with adjustment for relevant demographic and health-related covariates. Results Extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were positively associated with social participation, whereas neuroticism showed a negative association. Perceived emotional needs were positively correlated with social participation, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness, but negatively correlated with neuroticism. Mediation analyses indicated that perceived emotional needs partially mediated the associations between social participation and four personality traits: extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. No significant indirect effect was observed for openness. Conclusions These findings suggest that personality traits are associated with social participation both directly and indirectly through perceived emotional needs. The results highlight perceived emotional needs as a potential psychological mechanism linking personality characteristics to social behavior in later life.Interventions that strengthen emotional connectedness and account for individual differences in personality may help promote social participation among older adults.</p>