Based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey data in 2011, by the instrumental variable method to analyze the causal influence social activities for the elderly life satisfaction and its channels. Results show that participating in social activities can effectively improve the elderly life satisfaction. As for the channels of influence, social activities can reduce the depression of the elderly and prompt the old to see doctor timeliness, thus effectively improve the elderly life satisfaction.In this paper, the study found the exuberant vitality practice basis of cultural activities such as square dance, accordingly government should develop community culture construction, planning community activities scientifically, create hardware condition for old people to participate in social activities.