The Impact of Physical Activity on Depressive Symptoms among Urban and Rural Older Adults: Empirical Study Based on the 2018 CHARLS Database

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2018, we employed the propensity score matching method to examine the effect of physical activity on depressive symptoms among older adults across rural and urban areas. The study sample consisted of 5055 participants, with urban and rural populations representing 31.3% and 68.7%, respectively. This study found that rural older adult individuals exhibited a greater incidence of depressive symptoms and lower physical activity levels when compared to their urban counterparts. Engagement in high-intensity physical activity was identified as an effective method for mitigating depressive symptoms among older adults. However, the moderating effects of physical activity were only observed among urban older adult individuals. Our findings revealed a cross-sectional correlation between physical activity and depressive symptoms among older adult Chinese individuals, and this link differed between urban and rural areas. Although high-intensity physical activity has a positive effect on depressive symptoms among older adults, physical activity interventions should sufficiently consider the variations in older adults’ living conditions and environments due to urban–rural differences so that interventions can be customized to improve the mental health of older adults.