ABSTRACT:
Objective As one of the countries with the highest level of aging in the world, China actively responds to aging as an important strategic policy. There are few studies on the mechanism of how socioeconomic status (SES) affects depression in older adults. The mechanism of mental health inequality caused by SES, health and tourism opportunity inequality is worthy of further analysis. Data and methods This study aimed to estimate the sequential mediating role of digital participation and tourism on the relationship between socioeconomic status and depression of older adults in China. Using the nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey in 2015 and its follow-up in 2018 and 2020, 8210 participants aged 60 and above were analyzed. The sequential multi-mediation model with the Karlson–Holm–Breen method was conducted to analyze the effect mechanism of SES on mental health of older adults. Results The final analytical sample included 8 210 participants. Four potential mechanisms for the relationship between tourism, SES and depression among older adults in the digital era were found in the study including sequential multi-mediation path, two simple mediation paths and the direct effect of SES on depression:(1) SES - digital participation - tourism expenses - depression, (2) SES - digital participation - depression, (3) living areas and household assets in SES - tourism expenses - depression, (4) SES - depression. Conclusions Our findings highlight the potential of reducing depression among older adults by enhancing digital participation and tourism experiences, especially for those with lower SES. By integrating digital technology and tourism as mental health resources, this research offers insights for public health policies aiming to foster healthier, more inclusive aging in the digital era.