Urban resilience reduces depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly adults: A multidimensional analysis based on China longitudinal healthy longevity survey

Abstract

With the rapid urbanization and aging population, depression has become a severe public health issue globally, affecting millions of individuals and significantly impacting their quality of life and healthcare costs. Urban resilience refers to a city's ability to absorb, recover, and prepare for future shocks, ensuring sustainable development despite challenges. This study aims to explore the impact of urban resilience on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly adults. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we analyzed five dimensions of urban resilience: economic, social, ecological, institutional, and infrastructural resilience. The results of cox proportional hazards model indicate that high levels of urban resilience significantly reduce the risk of depressive symptoms (HR = 0.875, 95% CI: 0.832–0.920, P < 0.001). Specifically, economic resilience (HR = 0.883, 95% CI: 0.846–0.921, P < 0.001), social resilience (HR = 0.916, 95% CI: 0.876–0.958, P < 0.001), ecological resilience (HR = 0.670, 95% CI: 0.516–0.869, P = 0.003), institutional resilience (HR = 0.922, 95% CI: 0.886–0.960, P < 0.001), and infrastructural resilience (HR = 0.875, 95% CI: 0.826–0.926, P < 0.001) all show significant negative correlations with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, the mitigation of depressive symptoms risk resulting from improved urban resilience disproportionately benefits vulnerable groups and those with healthy living habits. These findings provide scientific evidence for urban planning and policy formulation, contributing to the promotion of mental health and healthy aging among middle-aged and elderly populations.