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Social occupations have been described as meaningful occupations, and a determinant of health in old age. With ageing populations, and increased need for nursing home care, it is therefore important to support participation in social occupations in nursing homes. However, the limited evidence on factors that may have an impact on nursing home residents’ participation in social occupations makes it difficult to know how and when to support their participation and who to target. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the impact of symptoms, resident characteristics and features of nursing homes on residents’ participation in social occupations. In a sample of 4,451 nursing home residents, the average number of social occupations participated in during the week preceding data collection was 5.8. Additionally, participation in social occupations was positively influenced by fewer symptoms of cognitive impairment, female sex, shorter length of stay, and living in a dementia specific care unit. The study thereby contributes with knowledge on populations at risk for occupational deprivation, and implications for understanding who to target with interventions to promote social occupations and when. However, very little is known about how to design interventions to support nursing home residents’ occupational opportunities, and what occupations they desire and need. Further research is therefore needed to identify nursing home residents’ occupational opportunities, wishes and needs in relation to environmental barriers, individual characteristics, and individual choice.