Depressive Symptoms In China Research Articles

Unraveling the Nexus between Overeducation and Depressive Symptoms in China: The Roles of Perceived Fairness of Earnings and Job Autonomy

Unraveling the Nexus between Overeducation and Depressive Symptoms in China: The Roles of Perceived Fairness of Earnings and Job Autonomy

Housing debt and depressive symptoms: evidence from the China family panel studies

BackgroundThere is limited evidence on the association between housing debt and depressive symptoms in China. This study aimed to examine the impact of housing debt on depressive symptoms and explore the heterogeneous impacts arising from two sources of housing debt and two types of housing demands.MethodsUsing data from the 2016 and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study included 25,232 Chinese individuals. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D8). Housing debt was measured by dummy variables, indicating whether an individual had housing debt, and continuous variables, which were the logarithm of the total amount of housing debt. The two-way fixed effects model was used to examine the relationship.ResultsHousing debt had a significant positive impact on depressive symptoms in China. Individuals with housing debt had a 0.176-point higher depressive symptom score than those without housing debt. A 10% increase in the total amount of housing debt led to a 0.16-point increase in depressive symptoms. Non-bank housing loans significantly increased the level of depressive symptoms with a larger coefficient (coef = 0.289), while the impact of bank housing loans was small and not statistically significant. In terms of the types of housing demands, a positive impact was observed only among individuals who had only one property meeting their housing consumption demands.ConclusionsThis study found a significant positive impact of housing debt on depressive symptoms, primarily driven by non-bank housing loans. Furthermore, housing debt increased the depressive symptoms among individuals with consumption demands, while those with investment demands did not show a significant impact. Government interventions should prioritize easing formal financial constraints and providing support for individuals with housing consumption demands.

Neighborhood safety perception and depressive symptoms in China: a moderated mediation relationship.

Despite rich data on neighborhood safety perception's role in shaping depressive symptoms, a comprehensive view of this dynamic interplay remains a frontier. This study seeks to unravel the intricate interplay of neighborhood safety perception and depressive symptoms, utilizing the lens of social safety theory. Employing the 2016 and 2020 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this study utilized ordered logistic regression (ologit) for statistical analysis. The approach encompassed descriptive analysis of variables, Spearman's correlation analyses to explore associations between variables, and a moderated mediation analysis. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to affirm the robustness of findings against model assumptions and data processing techniques. The study uncovered a significant negative correlation between neighborhood safety perception and depressive symptoms (Direct effect = - 0.338, Z = - 2.564, p = 0.010). A key finding was the steeper slope of the relationship between neighborhood safety perception and neighborhood relation perception among individuals with a higher perception of neighborhood environment quality. As neighborhood environment quality perception increases, the strength of the mediated negative impact on depressive symptoms intensifies (- 0.102 > - 0.132 > - 0.162). This study offers a comprehensive moderated mediation model that establishes a novel connection between neighborhood safety perception and depressive symptoms. It integrates the complexities of social safety theory and social information processes, revealing key strategies such as enhancing perceived neighborhood environment quality and neighborhood relationship quality.

Socioeconomic inequalities in depressive symptoms in China: The role of social capital

This cohort study used the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2015–2018) to investigate the effects of socioeconomic status and social capital to the incidence of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older individuals in China, incorporating a sample size of 9949 participants. Socioeconomic status, social capital and other explanatory variables were collected in 2015, while depressive symptoms were assessed in 2018. Basic characteristics and social capital measures were compared between urban and rural residents using the chi-square test. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between socioeconomic status, social capital and depressive symptoms, and the Karlson, Holm, and Breen (KHB) method was employed to verify the mediating role of social capital. We reported persistent socioeconomic inequalities in depressive symptoms, with rural residents and the illiterate having 1.45 times and 1.34 times higher odds of depression. We ascertained social capital from both the cognitive and structural constructs, where we enriched the measurement of structural social capital from three specific dimensions, i.e., informal interaction, altruism, and formal social participation. We found that both cognitive and structural social capital were associated with lower incidence of depressive symptoms, where informal interaction had the largest effect. The mediation analysis further illustrated that informal interaction contributed most to explain 6 %–12 % of the socioeconomic inequalities in depressive symptoms. These results highlighted the unsatisfied mental wellbeing of the vulnerable older people living in rural areas. The finding suggested that older people may benefit more from personal interactions than formal participations. To fulfill the Health in All vision, government and social organizations should consider how to create opportunities to better integrate the older people into the community.

The effects of living arrangements and leisure activities on depressive symptoms of Chinese older adults: Evidence from panel data analysis

BackgroundLivable environment and ways, as the necessary conditions for the elderly to enjoy their old age, have a significant impact on their mental health and happiness. It's crucial to understand how living arrangements affect depressive symptoms in China. Studies on how various leisure activities modify this association are yet limited. MethodsThis study relies on panel data derived from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), collected during waves spanning 2008/2009, 2011/2012, 2014, and 2018. The primary objective is to examine the relationship between living arrangements, leisure activities, and depressive symptoms of elderly individuals. Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the data. ResultsA total of 26,342 observations aged 65 and over were included in this paper. Older adults living alone (β = 0.66, 95 % CI: 0.55, 0.76) or living in institutions (β = 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.40, 0.98) had more depressive symptoms than those living with family. Leisure activities were negatively associated with depressive symptoms (β = −0.16, 95 % CI: −0.18, −0.15). Moreover, there was significant interactions between living arrangements and leisure activities. No matter which kind of living arrangements, participating in physical, productive or social activity was associated with a lower risk of depressive symptoms. LimitationsStudy design might introduce bias, and it cannot establish causality between the tested variables. ConclusionsOlder adults living alone or in institutions have more possibility to develop depressive symptoms than those living with family, and such a relationship among Chinese older adults can be moderated by participating in leisure activities.

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF INTERNET USE ON SUBJECTIVE SOCIAL STATUS AND DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS AMONG CHINESE OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Internet use has been found to be associated with decreases in depressive symptoms among older adults. However, past evidences may have had publication bias due to the negative consequences of internet use demonstrated in other age groups. Thus, this study aims to investigate the adverse effect of older adults’ internet use on depressive symptoms and its mechanism. The inverse subjective social status (SSS) in depressive symptoms is a well-established research finding. Based on this, we hypothesize that older adults’ internet use could expand their reference group and exposing them to more ageist content, thus reducing their SSS which in turn increases depressive symptoms. We examined how older adults’ internet use influences SSS and how SSS mediates the effect of internet use on depressive symptoms in China. The data were from wave 3 (2016, T1), 4 (2018, T2), and 5 (2020, T3) of the China Family Panel Studies, a nationally representative survey. The longitudinal mediation analysis included 3,237 participants who were aged 60 and above at T1 (wave 3) and were followed through waves 4 and 5. As expected, Internet use at T1 predicted lower levels of SSS at T2. Lower levels of SSS at T2 predicted higher levels of depressive symptoms at T3. This medicating effect was significant. This time-varying mediation which appeared to be explained by the relative deprivation and ageism following internet use among older adults. This study theorizes and provides evidence for previously overlooked psychosocial pathway through which internet use among older adults produces negative consequences.

Ruyong formula improves thymus function of CUMS-stimulated breast cancer mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceRuyong Formula (RYF) is a famous Chinese herbal formula composed of 10 traditional Chinese herbs. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer patients with depressive symptoms in China. However, its underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to explore the mechanism of RYF on the changes of thymus immune function in breast cancer body under mood disorders such as depression/anxiety. Materials and methodsThe chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to stimulate 4T1 breast cancer mice. The behavioral changes, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level in brain, cytokeratin 5 (CK5) and 8 (CK8) expression in thymus, the proportion of T cell subsets, the thymic output, phenotypic changes of thymus epithelial cells (TECs), the expression levels of immune-related factors and downstream proteins of TSLP were analyzed after RYF treatment. ResultsIn CUMS stimulated group, the level of 5-HT in brain was significantly increased after RYF treatment. The output function of the thymus was improved, and the number of TECs in the medulla (CK5+), the proportion of CD3+CD4−CD8− (Double negative) and CD3+CD4+CD8+ (Double positive) T cells were all increased. The mRNA level of TSLP in mouse thymus was significantly decreased, but increased for IL-7. The protein levels of TSLP and Vimentin were decreased, but increased for p-STAT3, p-JAK2, E-cadherin, and p-PI3K p55 in vivo. In vitro study was showed the levels of Snail 1, Zeb 1 and Smad increased significantly in TGF-β1 group, and RYF could reverse their expression. ConclusionsRYF could restore the structure and function of the thymus in depressed breast cancer mice by reversing the phenotypic changes of TECs and activating the JAK2/STAT3/PI3K pathway.

The moderating role of resilience in the association between workload and depressive symptoms among radiology residents in China: results from a nationwide cross-sectional study.

The current study aimed to explore the moderating role of psychological resilience in the association between workload and depressive symptoms among radiology residents during standardized residency training (SRT) in China. A nationwide cross-sectional online survey was conducted among radiology residents in China. Workload was measured by working hours per week and the frequency of frontline nightwork in the last month. Resilience was assessed by the 2-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. The hierarchical regression and simple slope analyses were performed to examine the moderating effect of resilience. Among 3666 radiology residents, the mean age was 27.3years (SD = 2.6) and 58% were female. About 24.4% of the participants reported medium to severe depressive symptoms. The hierarchical regression showed that working hours (ba = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.08, 0.14) and having frontline nightwork more than once (ba = 1.22, 95%CI: 0.67, 1.78) were positively associated with depressive symptoms; the moderating effect of resilience was significant in the association of depressive symptoms with working hours (ba = - 0.02, 95%CI: - 0.03, - 0.01) and having frontline nightwork more than once (ba = - 0.28, 95%CI: - 0.49, - 0.07). The simple slope test showed the association between workload-related variables and depressive symptoms was only significant in those with a relatively lower level of resilience. The study found that resilience was an important modifier buffering the positive association between workload and depressive symptoms among radiology residents in China. Future medical training programs are suggested to include effective intervention components to increase personal resilience. Heavy workload in clinical setting may pose adverse effect on mental health and job performance of radiology residents. The study investigated whether psychological resilience would mitigate the association between workload and depressive symptoms among Chinese radiology residents. • Radiology residents with a heavier workload presented a higher level of depressive symptoms in China. • Psychological resilience mitigated the positive association between workload and depressive symptoms. • The association between workload and depressive symptoms was only statistically significant in radiology residents with a relatively lower level of resilience.

Long-term exposure of PM2.5 components on the adults' depressive symptoms in China - Evidence from a representative longitudinal nationwide cohort.

In recent years, there is growing evidence that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with depressive symptoms. However, little is known about the individual effects of PM2.5 components, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. We investigated the association between long-term exposure to major components of PM2.5 and worsening depressive symptoms in Chinese adults based on a large, long-term, nationally representative, population-based prospective cohort. Our data were derived from China Family Panel Study (CFPS) wave 2012, 2016 and 2018 and a long-term (2010-2019) high-resolution PM2.5 components dataset covering the whole China. We assessed respondents' depressive symptoms using standardized scales and applied advanced Fixed-effect ordered logit model (FE-ologit) to capture the ordinal nature of respondents' depressive symptoms and control for individual-specific and time-invariant effects to investigate their associations with PM2.5 components. We included 9503 respondents and the FE-ologit model results indicated that the odds ratio of increase per standard unit was 1.118 (95 % CI: 1.020, 1.225) for black carbon, 1.134 (95 % CI: 1.028, 1.252) for organic matter, 1.127 for ammonium (95 % CI: 1.011, 1.255), 1.107 for nitrate (95 % CI: 0.981, 1.248), and 1.117 for sulfate (95 % CI: 1.020, 1.224). Our study suggests that long-term exposure to PM2.5 components is significantly associated with worsening of depressive symptoms, and that different components may have different toxicity. Reducing PM2.5 emissions, especially the major sources of organic matter and ammonium, may reduce the burden of depressive symptoms in Chinese adults.

DYADIC EFFECTS ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS OF SPOUSE CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CARE RECIPIENTS: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

Abstract Objectives The likelihood of providing care to a spouse in middle and older ages has increased as life expectancy increases, but knowledge about how the caregiver and care recipient influence each other’s mental health is limited. This study examined whether a partner’s physical, cognitive, and mental health in a spousal caregiving dyad are associated with the other partner’s depressive symptoms in China and whether the dyadic effects vary by gender. Methods This study used data from Wave 3 (2015) and Wave 4 (2018) follow-up surveys of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The analytic sample featured 1,245 dyads of care recipients aged 45 or older and their spouse caregivers. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to test the dyadic effects among all couples in the analytic sample, couples with wife caregivers and couples with husband caregivers, respectively. Results We found that caregiver’s depressive symptoms at Wave 3 were significantly associated with care recipient’s depressive symptoms at Wave 4 in the full sample. Regardless of caregiver or care recipient roles, wives’ mental health was impacted by their husbands’ depressive symptoms, but not vice versa. Wife recipient’s cognitive impairment was associated with husband caregiver’s lower depressive symptoms. Discussion: This study sheds light on the mental health of couples in the context of caregiving in China. The findings indicate that interventions to support couples in a caregiving dyad need to consider the influence they have on each other, and the gender and health conditions of each in the dyad.

The influence of perceived government corruption on depressive symptoms with social status as a moderator

Perceived government corruption is an important indicator of depressive symptoms. Recent studies have explored the relationship between perceived government corruption and depressive symptoms in a cross-cultural context, but the underlying mechanisms need further research. This paper examines the impact of perceived government corruption on depressive symptoms in China and the moderating role of social status. Based on the 2018 wave of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS2018), 14,116 respondents aged between 16 and 96 were selected. The results revealed: (1) Perceived government corruption was significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms. (2) Social class had an inhibitory effect in moderating the relationship between perceived government corruption and depressive symptoms. (3) The moderating effect was only significant for respondents who received education between junior high school and a bachelor’s degree. The findings provide policy implications for developing countries and transitional societies like China. To build a more psychologically healthy society, we need to strengthen anti-corruption, stimulate social mobility, and improve people's sense of gain in the future

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Depressive Symptoms in China: A Longitudinal, Population-Based Study.

Objectives: We aimed to examine how COVID-19 incidence is associated with depressive symptoms in China, whether the association is transient, and whether the association differs across groups. Methods: We used a longitudinal sample from 2018 to 2020 waves of the China Family Panel Study. We constructed COVID-19 incidence rates as the number of new cases per 100,000 population in respondents’ resident provinces in the past 7, 14, and 28 days when a respondent was surveyed. We performed linear or logistic regressions to examine the associations, and performed stratified analyses to explore the heterogeneity of the associations. Results: Our sample included 13,655 adults. The 7-day incidence rate was positively associated with the CES-D score (coef. = 2.551, 95% CI: 1.959–3.142), and likelihood of being more depressed (adjusted odds ratio = 6.916, 95% CI: 4.715–10.144). The associations were larger among those with less education, pre-existing depression, or chronic conditions. We did not find any significant association between the 14- or 28-day local incidence rates and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The impact of COVID-19 incidence on mental health in China’s general population was statistically significant and moderate in magnitude and transient. Disadvantaged groups experienced higher increases in depressive symptoms.

Potential Mechanisms of Shu Gan Jie Yu Capsule in the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Depression Based on Systemic Pharmacology and Current Evidence.

Background Shu Gan Jie Yu (SGJY) capsule has a good effect on relieving depressive symptoms in China. However, the mechanism of action is still unclear. Therefore, systemic pharmacology and molecular docking approaches were used to clarify its corresponding antidepressant mechanisms. Methods Traditional Chinese Medicine Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM), and Swiss Target Prediction servers were used to screen and predict the bioactive components of the SGJY capsule and their antidepressive targets. Mild to moderate depression (MMD) related genes were obtained from GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. A network of bioactive components-therapeutic targets of the SGJY capsule was established by STRING 11.5 and Cytoscape 3.9.0 software. Gene function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed by utilizing Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) platform. Active components were taken to dock with the hypothetical proteins by iGEMDOCK and SwissDock, and the docking details were visually displayed by UCSF Chimera software. Then, the related research literature of the SGJY capsule was reviewed, summarized, sorted, and analyzed, including experimental evidence and clinical experience. Results Seven active components and 45 intersection targets were included in the study. PPI network had genuinely uncovered the potential therapeutic targets, such as AKT1, HSP90AA1, ESR1, EGFR, and PTGS2. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the mechanism of the SGJY capsule on MMD was mainly involved in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusions In this study, we have successfully predicted the biochemically active constituents, potential therapeutic targets, and comprehensively predicted the related drug-gene interaction of the SGJY capsule for treating MMD and provided a basis for subsequent experiments.

Yijinjing Qigong intervention shows strong evidence on clinical effectiveness and electroencephalography signal features for early poststroke depression: A randomized, controlled trial.

ObjectiveAlthough Traditional Chinese Yijinjing Qigong Exercise (YJJQE) as mind–body intervention is popularly used among adults to ameliorate depressive symptoms in China, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are available to evaluate the effects of YJJQE in patients with poststroke depression (PSD). This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and the neurological and psychiatric mechanism in brain network functional connectivity underlying electroencephalography (EEG).Materials and methodsA total of 60 patients, diagnosed with mild PSD, were randomly (1:1) assigned to YJJQE group (n = 30) and control group of routine segmental rehabilitation training group (n = 30) for a 60-min exercise session once a day for 3 weeks. All outcome measures were collected at baseline and 3-weeks ending intervention. The primary outcome was the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) score, evaluation at more time points for 1 month of follow-up. The secondary outcomes were EEG data in four frequency domains (δ, θ, α, and β), global efficiency (GE), local efficiency (LE), GE/LE curve [areas under the curve (AUC)], Phase Lag Index (PLI), (HAMD-24) Score and EEG correlation analysis.ResultsAll patients showed no significant differences in baseline data. After 3 weeks and 1 month of follow-up, the YJJQE group demonstrated significant decreasing changes compared to the control group on the HAMD-24 scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the YJJQE group also showed a significant reduction in θ wave, and an increase in both GE and LE. Compared to the control group, the YJJQE Qigong group showed significantly greater functional connectivity in the δ, θ, and β frequency bands in the brain network of the degree of phase synchronization (p < 0.001). HAMD-24 Score and EEG correlation analysis negative correlation in the Qigong group θ wave (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that YJJQE is estimated to effectively alleviate the depressed mood of patients with PSD by promoting the efficiency in information transmission of network functional connectivity and its integration ability in different brain regions. Therefore, the YJJQE would be useful as a non-pharmacological treatment to prevent PSD.Clinical trial registration[http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=55789], identifier [ChiCTR2000035588].

Dyadic effects on depressive symptoms of spouse caregivers and their care recipients: evidence from China

Objectives The likelihood of providing care to a spouse in middle and older ages has increased as life expectancy increases, but knowledge about how the caregiver and care recipient influence each other’s mental health is limited. This study examined whether a partner’s physical, cognitive, and mental health in a spousal caregiving dyad are associated with the other partner’s depressive symptoms in China and whether the dyadic effects vary by gender. Methods This study used data from Wave 3 (2015) and Wave 4 (2018) follow-up surveys of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The analytic sample featured 1,245 dyads of care recipients aged 45 or older and their spouse caregivers. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was used to test the dyadic effects among all couples in the analytic sample, couples with wife caregivers and couples with husband caregivers, respectively. Results We found that caregiver’s depressive symptoms at Wave 3 were significantly associated with care recipient’s depressive symptoms at Wave 4 in the full sample. Regardless of caregiver or care recipient roles, wives’ mental health was impacted by their husbands’ depressive symptoms, but not vice versa. Wife recipient’s cognitive impairment was associated with husband caregiver’s lower depressive symptoms. Conclusion This study sheds light on the mental health of couples in the context of caregiving in China. The findings indicate that interventions to support couples in a caregiving dyad need to consider the influence they have on each other, and the gender and health conditions of each in the dyad.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms in nurses compared to the general population based on Propensity Score Matching: A nationwide cross-sectional study in China

BackgroundDepressive symptoms have a series of negative effects and are considered especially severe among nurses, whereas there is a lack of quantitative studies comparing the risk of depressive symptoms between nurses and the general population. MethodsWe respectively conducted a nationwide cross-sectional online survey among 17,582 Chinese nurses from July to August 2018, and 101,120 Chinese community residents from January to February 2019. The questionnaire covered social-demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms for both, work-related factors and life-related factors for nurses. Propensity Score Matching was performed to match nurses and residents by gender, age, educational level, marital status, and habitual residence. ResultsBefore Propensity Score Matching, the risk of depressive symptoms in nurses was higher than residents (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 2.07–2.26). After matching, there were 15,256 nurses and residents respectively, and the risk in nurses was higher (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 2.02–2.27). Logistic regression showed that longer years of service (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.30–1.83), higher night shift frequency (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.35–1.64), perceived shortage of nurses (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.84–2.13), suffered verbal violence (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 2.21–2.66) and physical violence (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.64–1.98) were risk factors for depressive symptoms in nurses. LimitationsConvenience sampling and online survey were adopted in this cross-sectional study, which may diminish the representativeness of samples. ConclusionsCompared with the general population, nurses have a higher risk of depressive symptoms in China. Reasonable work allocation, adequate staffing, scientific shift system and violence emergency system should be implemented.

The association between community-level socioeconomic status and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults in China

BackgroundThere was little evidence concerning the association of community socioeconomic status (SES) and the cross-level interaction between community- and individual-level SES with depressive symptoms in China. This study aimed to investigate the association of community-level SES with depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older people and to examine whether individual-level SES moderates this relationship.MethodsUsing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal 2011–2018 Study, the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) short form was used to measure depressive symptoms in 35,546 Chinese individuals aged 45 years and older. Community SES was calculated as a sum of z scores of the average years of schooling and household income per capita, which were derived by aggregating the individual measures to the community level. Two-level hierarchical linear regression was used.ResultsCommunity SES was negatively related to CES-D-10 scores (coef=-0.438). A 1-SD increase in individual SES was associated with lower CES-D-10 scores (coef=-0.490). The cross-level interaction on individual- and community-level SES was significantly associated with depressive symptoms, indicating that with the increase of individual-level SES, the effect of community-level SES on depression decreases. Stratified analyses observed robust associations of community SES with CES-D scores between urban and rural residents.ConclusionsThis study showed that individuals who live in lower-SES communities had more severe depressive symptoms, particularly individuals with low SES. Additional attention should be given to the community socioeconomic context of middle-aged and older adults with lower SES, which may be helpful to reduce SES inequalities in depressive symptoms in China.

Keeping up with the Wangs: individual and contextual influences on mental wellbeing and depressive symptoms in China

BackgroundIn recent decades, China has experienced dramatic changes to its social and economic environment, which has affected the distribution of wellbeing across its citizens. While several studies have investigated individual level predictors of wellbeing in the Chinese population, less research has been done looking at contextual effects. This cross-sectional study looks at the individual and contextual effects of (regional) education, unemployment and marriage (rate) on individual happiness, life satisfaction and depressive symptomatology.MethodsData were collected from over 29,000 individuals (aged 18 to 110, 51.91% female) in the China Family Panel Studies, and merged with county level census data obtained from the 2010 China Population Census and Statistical Yearbook. To explore contextual effects, we used multilevel models accounting for the hierarchical structure of the data.ResultsWe found that a one-year increase in education was associated with a 0.17% increase in happiness and a 0.16% decrease in depressive symptoms. Unemployed men were 1% less happy, 1% less satisfied with life and reported 0.84% more depressive symptoms than employed men while minimal effects were seen for women. Single, divorced and widowed individuals had worse outcomes than married individuals (ranging from 2.96 to 21% differences). We found interaction effects for education and employment. Less educated individuals had greater happiness and less depressive symptoms in counties with higher average education compared to counterparts in less educated counties. In contrast, more educated individuals were less satisfied with life in more educated counties, an effect that is possibly due to social comparison. Employed individuals had lower life satisfaction in areas of high unemployment, while levels were constant for the unemployed. A 1% increase in county marriage rate was associated with 0.33 and 0.24% increases in happiness and life satisfaction respectively, with no interactions. We speculate that this effect could be due to greater social cohesion in the neighbourhood.ConclusionsOur results show that policies designed to improve employment and marriage rates will be beneficial for all, while interventions to encourage positive social comparison strategies may help to offset the negative effects of increasing neighbourhood average education on the highly educated.

Developmental Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms in Chinese College Students: Latent Classes and Gender Effect

Depressive symptoms are prevalent in Chinese college students, but little is known about the heterogeneity in the developmental trajectory of depressive symptoms in China. This study examined heterogeneity in the development of depressive symptoms and examined the effect of gender on the developmental trajectories over a 14-month period among Chinese college students (N = 1163, mean age 20.18, 80.31% female). Three different trajectories, moderate-increasing, high-stable and low-stable, captured the heterogeneity in the development of depressive symptoms. Gender showed significant influence on class membership. Relative to the moderate-increasing class, males emerged as significantly more likely than females to be found in the low-stable class (odds ratio (OR) = 2.73, 95% CI = (1.21, 6.13), p = 0.015) and the high-stable class (OR = 5.10, 95% CI = (1.12, 23.18), p = 0.035). The results provide additional evidence for the conclusion that the trajectories of depressive symptoms are heterogeneous with Chinese samples. Moreover, cultural difference should be paid more attention to when examining the effect of gender and other predictors of the trajectories of depressive symptoms.

Adult Children's Intergenerational Mobility and Older Adults' Self-Rated Health: A U.S.-China Comparison.

This study examines whether and how adult children's educational mobility is associated with the self-rated health of older adults aged 50 and above in China and the United States. The analytic sample included 12,445 Chinese respondents from the 2011 to 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and 17,121 US respondents from the 2010 to 2012 Health and Retirement Study. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between children's educational mobility and parents' self-rated health, and the Karlson-Holm-Breen-method was used for mediation analysis. Adult children's upward mobility was associated with their parents' better health in both countries. This association was mediated by child-to-parent economic support, as well as parents' social engagement and depressive symptoms in China; in the United States, parents' depression was the only significant mediator. This study is among the first to empirically show the benefit of adult children's upward mobility for their parents' health. The cross-national differences in the mediating paths suggest that the cross-over effect of children's intergenerational mobility on their parents' health is embedded within specific sociocultural contexts.