Multidimensional Trajectories of Social Adaptation Among Chinese Older Adults: Heterogeneous Pathways Shaped by Cognitive Function, Depression Symptoms, and Friendship.

Social adaptation is critical for healthy aging, yet few longitudinal studies examine multidimensional social adaptation trajectories and its' predictors among Chinese older adults. Using four-wave panel data (2014-2020) of 1,990 older adults, we applied latent growth and group-based trajectory models to map social adaptation developmental patterns. Personal development adaptation exhibited a nonlinear declining trajectory, while ideological-cultural adaptation fell into four subgroups: gradual decline, stable low, initial decline with subsequent stabilization, and sustained moderate-to-high adaptation. Baseline education and self-rated health positively predicted initial personal development adaptation levels. Cognitive function showed consistent positive longitudinal effects on personal development adaptation and heterogeneous predictive links to ideological-cultural subgroup membership. Depressive symptoms negatively predicted personal development adaptation and only predicted membership in the sustained high-adaptation ideological-cultural subgroup. Friendship had no significant predictive effect on two dimensions. This study confirms domain-specific heterogeneity in older adults' social adaptation and offers empirical evidence for targeted active aging interventions.