{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,2]],"date-time":"2026-11-02T17:05:27Z","timestamp":1793639127598,"version":"4.5.1"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785974400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Promoting a happier society is an important goal of social development, and subjective well-being is a key indicator of quality of life. With population aging in China, older adults may be more vulnerable to negative emotional states. Group-based physical activities, such as square dance, have become popular among older adults due to their accessibility and potential psychological benefits.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Using a convenience sampling approach, this study recruited urban older adults aged 60\u201369 years who regularly participated in square dance exercise. Notably, the final sample was predominantly female (94.55%), which should be considered when interpreting the findings. Data were collected using validated scales, including the PARS-3, Social Support Scale, LOT-R, and the Chinese Urban Residents\u2019 Subjective Well-being Scale (short version). Analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 26.0, and mediation effects were tested using bootstrap analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Square dance participation, social support, optimism, and subjective well-being were significantly positively associated (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.01). Square dance participation was associated with subjective well-being (total effect \u03b2 = 0.507), with a direct effect of 0.205. Social support partially mediated this relationship (indirect effect = 0.233), as did optimism (indirect effect = 0.034). A sequential mediation effect through social support and optimism was also observed (indirect effect = 0.035).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Square dance participation is positively associated with subjective well-being among older adults, with this relationship partially explained by social support and optimism.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1893996","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T05:31:18Z","timestamp":1785994278000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Square dance participation and subjective well-being among urban older adults: mediating roles of social support and optimism"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Longan","family":"Cao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Southwest University","place":["Chongqing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhirong","family":"Zheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Teaching and Research Association, Chongqing Vocational College of Applied Technology","place":["Chongqing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jun","family":"Lang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Southwest University","place":["Chongqing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhengban","family":"Ran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Teaching and Research Association, Guang\u2019an Institute of Technology, Guang\u2019an","place":["Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lei","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Southwest University","place":["Chongqing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1080\/07303084.2023.2172109","article-title":"Influence of dance classes on the quality of interpersonal relations in a social group.","volume":"94","author":"Banio-Krajnik","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Phys. Health. Educ. Recreat. Dance"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1515\/9783110866377.159","article-title":"On the interface between social support and prosocial behavior: methodological and theoretical implications","volume-title":"Social Networks and Social Support in Childhood and Adolescence","author":"Bierhoff","year":"1994"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anpsic.2018.10.001","article-title":"The study of character strengths and life satisfaction: A comparison between affective-component and cognitive-component traits.","volume":"48","author":"Blasco-Belled","year":"2018","journal-title":"Anuario. De. Psicolog."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1891\/9780826146991.0013","article-title":"Social networks and social isolation among lgbt older adults","volume-title":"Social Isolation of Older Adults","author":"Butler","year":"2018"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1177\/1948550616646424","article-title":"Do psychologically adjusted individuals know what other people really think about them?","volume":"7","author":"Carlson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc. Psychol. Personal Sci."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"925","DOI":"10.1037\/emo0000405","article-title":"Expressive suppression tendencies, projection bias in memory of negative emotions, and well-being.","volume":"18","author":"Chang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Emotion"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1080\/07303084.2023.2172110","article-title":"School sports club in South Korea: Supporting middle school students physical activity engagement and social-emotional development in schools.","volume":"94","author":"Cho","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Phys. Health Educ. Recreat. Dance"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"300","DOI":"10.1097\/00006842-197609000-00003","article-title":"Presidential address-1976. social support as a moderator of life stress.","volume":"38","author":"Cobb","year":"1976","journal-title":"Psychosom. Med"},{"key":"B9","first-page":"1","article-title":"Resilience: the role of optimism, perceived parental autonomy support and perceived social support in first year university students.","volume":"1","author":"Dawson","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Educ. Train. Stud."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"542","DOI":"10.1037\/0033-2909.95.3.542","article-title":"Subjective well-being.","volume":"95","author":"Diener","year":"1984","journal-title":"Psycholo. Bull."},{"key":"B11","volume-title":"The Interaction Effect of Social Support and Public Sports Services on Older Adults\u2019 Exercise Adherence Behavior","author":"Duan","year":"2019"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315165493-1","article-title":"Positive psychology and related constructs","volume-title":"Adolescent Coping","author":"Frydenberg","year":"2018"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/e538952013-002","author":"Hobfoll","year":"2009","journal-title":"Conservation of Resources Theory: Stress and Trauma."},{"key":"B14","first-page":"71","article-title":"From \u2018lady gongsun\u2019 to \u2018Chinese dama\u2019: Square dance as the latest form in chinese dance history","volume-title":"Dance Studies in China: Selected Writings from the Journal of Beijing Dance Academy","author":"Hu","year":"2022"},{"key":"B15","first-page":"89","article-title":"The interaction, integration and synthesis of square dance and traditional dance in the process of urbanization in China","volume-title":"Dance Studies in China: Selected Writings from the Journal of Beijing Dance Academy","author":"Huang","year":"2022"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2780","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.02780","article-title":"Coping with depressive symptoms in young adults: Perceived social support protects against depressive symptoms only under moderate levels of stress.","volume":"9","author":"Ioannou","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front. Psychol"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igaa057.1609","article-title":"Negative marital quality, purpose in life, and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older couples.","volume":"4","author":"Irani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Innov. Aging"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.21317\/ksd.75.4.6","article-title":"A study on the aspect of change of square dance according to the flow of modern Chinese history.","volume":"75","author":"Jiang","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dance Res. Dance"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.3390\/biomed4010003","article-title":"Regular intermittent aerobic exercise reduces arterial stiffness associated with postprandial hyperglycemia in middle-aged and older individuals.","volume":"4","author":"Kobayashi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Bio. Med."},{"key":"B20","first-page":"85","article-title":"Well-being, psychological adjustments and effective social support giving","volume-title":"Social Support, Well-Being, and Teacher Development","author":"Lam","year":"2018"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.5456\/WPLL.27.1.153","article-title":"From social relationships to social support: facilitating workshops to enhance widening participation students\u2019 sense of belonging at medical school. morressier.","volume":"27","author":"Langford","year":"2024","journal-title":"GmbH."},{"key":"B22","first-page":"5","article-title":"Stress levels of students in higher education and their relationship with physical activity.","volume":"1","author":"Liang","year":"1994","journal-title":"Chinese Mental Health J."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-017-0509-8","article-title":"The association between social support and physical activity in older adults: a systematic review.","volume":"14","author":"Lindsay Smith","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3102\/2196714","article-title":"Which social-emotional skills are most important for students\u2019 learning and well-being? An international comparison among china, the united states, and Finland","volume-title":"Proceedings of the 2025 AERA Annual Meeting","author":"Liu","year":"2025"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.31031\/pprs.2020.04.000592","article-title":"Mini review of the relationship between social support and subjective well-being among older adults","author":"Mao","year":"2021","journal-title":"China. Psychology and Psychotherapy Research Study."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"737","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igy023.2720","article-title":"Social support and subjective well-being among Chinese","volume":"2","author":"Mao","year":"2018","journal-title":"Innov Aging"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igac059.754","article-title":"Time horizons versus time savoring: which best predicts age-related improvements in emotional well-being?","volume":"6","author":"Matteson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Innov. Aging"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1037\/000761","article-title":"Subjective well-being: An etic construct?","volume":"48","author":"Mio","year":"2003","journal-title":"Psyc. Critiques."},{"key":"B29","first-page":"15","article-title":"Older consumer well-being: A life course perspective","author":"Moschis","year":"2024"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-19-6124-3_13","article-title":"Ageing, demography, and welfare states in China and india: familial and social transitions","volume-title":"Social and Economic Transitions in China and India","author":"Nakray","year":"2022"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/2242.003.0009","article-title":"Goals as cornerstones of subjective well-being: linking individuals and cultures","volume-title":"Culture and Subjective Well-Being","author":"Oishi","year":"2000"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6181","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19106181","article-title":"Effect of square dance interventions on physical and mental health among chinese older adults: A systematic review.","volume":"19","author":"Ou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2025","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare11142025","article-title":"Relationships among square dance, group cohesion, perceived social support, and psychological capital in 2721 middle-aged and older adults in China.","volume":"11","author":"Qu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Healthcare"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"900","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4615-0195-4_131","article-title":"Retirement satisfaction, older adulthood","volume-title":"Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion","author":"Richardson","year":"2003"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"396","DOI":"10.1017\/9781316995808.037","article-title":"Mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis","volume-title":"The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods in Clinical Psychologyeds","author":"Rockwood","year":"2020"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.47211\/idcij.2021.v08i03.017","article-title":"Maslow\u2019s hierarchy of needs theory: Linkage with self reflexivity.","volume":"8","author":"Roy","year":"2021","journal-title":"IDC Int. J."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1063","DOI":"10.1037\/\/0022-3514.67.6.1063","article-title":"Distinguishing optimism from neuroticism (and trait anxiety, self-mastery, and self-esteem): A revaluation of the life orientation test.","volume":"67","author":"Scheier","year":"1994","journal-title":"J Pers Soc Psychol"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1080\/07303084.2025.2459564","article-title":"Creative dance in body socks: strategies to reduce shame and enhance creative potential in dance education.","volume":"96","author":"Schulze","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Phys. Health Educ."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"10645","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph182010645","article-title":"Structural relationship between korean adolescent\u2019s sports participation, optimism, pessimism, self-regulation, and coronavirus-related stress in the pandemic situation.","volume":"18","author":"Song","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511983924.015","article-title":"Physical activity and psychological well-being","volume-title":"Physical Activity and Health","author":"Steptoe","year":"1992"},{"key":"B41","volume-title":"The significance of Maslow\u2019s hierarchy of ne eds.","author":"Strelicz","year":"2025"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.25016\/2782-652x-2025-0-96-27-35","article-title":"The relationship between chronic fatigue and dispositional optimism in codependent individuals.","author":"Stryapukhina","year":"2026","journal-title":"Bull. Psychother."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1080\/07303084.2012.10598848","article-title":"Can dance participation enhance the physical activity level of US.","volume":"83","author":"Todorovich","year":"2012","journal-title":"Phys. Health Edu. Recreat. Dance"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.25215\/0403.002","article-title":"Optimistic outlook and its relation with physical and psychological symptom reporting.","volume":"4","author":"Tripathi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Indian Psychology."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"743479","DOI":"10.3389\/fnagi.2021.743479","article-title":"Acute effects of different exercise intensities on executive function and oculomotor performance in middle-aged and older adults: Moderate-intensity continuous exercise vs.","volume":"13","author":"Tsai","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Aging Neurosci"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780192632159.003.0008","article-title":"The role of significant others: social support during injuries","volume-title":"Coping with Sports Injuries: Psychological Strategies for Rehabilitation","author":"Udry","year":"2001"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/e538922013-127","author":"Vollmann","year":"2005","journal-title":"Social Responses To Optimistic, Pessimistic, And Realistic Coping Behaviour: Do Optimists Receive More Social Support?."},{"key":"B48","volume-title":"Psychological Health Categories and Influencing Factors of Elderly People in Urban and Rural Areas of China: A Dual-Variable Model Analysis.","author":"Wang","year":"2025"},{"key":"B49","first-page":"703","article-title":"Developing the brief subjective well-being scale for Chinese citizens.","volume":"12","author":"Xing","year":"2003","journal-title":"Chinese J Behav Med Sci"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"932","DOI":"10.2466\/pr0.95.3.932-934","article-title":"Depression, optimism, and positive health practices in young adolescents.","volume":"95","author":"Yarcheski","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychol Rep"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16138","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-023-05562-5","article-title":"Why dance makes me happy? Older people\u2019s square dance participation, social adaptation and subjective well-being.","volume":"43","author":"Zeng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Current Psycholo."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1893996\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]],"date-time":"2026-08-06T05:31:22Z","timestamp":1785994282000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1893996\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"references-count":51,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1893996"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1893996","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,6]]},"article-number":"1893996"}}