Objectives　While　previous　studies　have　explored　the　link　between　a　spouse＇s　social　participation　and　their　partner＇s　general　physical　health　among　Chinese　middle-aged　and　older　adults,　none　have　examined　its　association　with　partner　chronic　disease　or　potential　gender　differences.　Our　study　aims　to　address　this　gap.Methods　This　study　used　data　from　the　2013,　2015,　and　2018　waves　of　the　China　Health　and　Retirement　Longitudinal　Study　(CHARLS).　The　sample　comprised　3,072　couples　where　both　partners　were　aged　45　or　older.　Chronic　disease　was　defined　as　the　count　of　self-reported　chronic　conditions.　Social　participation　was　measured　as　the　number　of　distinct　social　activity　types　engaged　in.　Analyses　employed　the　actor-partner　interdependence　model　(APIM).Results　Spousal　social　participation　was　significantly　associated　with　partner　chronic　disease,　with　significant　gender　differences.　Specifically,　the　wife＇s　social　participation　was　positively　associated　with　the　husband＇s　chronic　diseases,　whereas　the　husband＇s　social　participation　was　negatively　associated　with　the　wife＇s　chronic　diseases.　Furthermore,　the　wife＇s　depressive　symptoms　significantly　mediated　both　of　these　associations.Conclusion　Spousal　social　participation　is　associated　with　partner　chronic　disease　among　Chinese　middle-aged　and　older　adults,　with　the　nature　of　this　association　varying　significantly　by　gender.　These　findings　suggest　that　developing　and　strengthening　social　support　networks,　alongside　implementing　gender-sensitive　interventions　to　promote　social　participation,　could　improve　health　outcomes.