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Social-Demographic Correlates of the Mental Health Conditions among the Chinese Elderly

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  • Wenjuan Du

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8# South Donghu Road,Wuhan 430072, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Jiayi Zhou

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    These authors contributed equally to this study.)

  • Jianjian Liu

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Xuhao Yang

    (Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Hanxu Wang

    (Cornell Institute for Public Affairs, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Meikun He

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China)

  • Zongfu Mao

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8# South Donghu Road,Wuhan 430072, China)

  • Xiaojun Liu

    (School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China
    Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8# South Donghu Road,Wuhan 430072, China)

Abstract

Studies on psychological problems among the elderly were mainly conducted in developed countries, which may not fit China under the context of the dramatic changes of social environment. This study aims to assess the status and social-demographic determinants of the mental health among the Chinese elderly. The Chinese version of the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) was used to measure participants’ mental health. A logistic model was established to identify the main socio-demographic factors associated with the overall detection rate of SCL-90-R. The overall positive detection rate of SCL-90-R was 23.6%, and the four symptoms with the highest positive detection rate were somatization (39.5%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (28.1%), other poor mental health symptoms (mainly sleep and diet problems) (25.7%), and depression (25.1%). The results showed those aged 75–79 (OR = 0.640, 95% CI 0.452 to 0.905) and 80 or above (OR = 0.430, 95% CI 0.302 to 0.613), those received 0 (OR = 0.224, 95% CI 0.162 to 0.310) or 1–5 years of education (OR = 0.591, 95% CI 0.449 to 0.776), those were living with spouse only (OR = 0.817, 95% CI 0.563 to 0.997) and with multiple generations (OR = 0.689, 95% CI 0.472 to 0.950), those holding a non-agricultural household registration (OR = 0.727, 95% CI 0.537 to 0.984), and those with an better higher household income were less likely to be positive in overall mental health symptoms. Mental health was shown to be better among those with more advanced ages (≥75), lower levels of schooling (≤5), normal body mass index, higher household incomes, and those who are married and live with their spouse or multiple generations, and those who came from city and currently live in the county.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjuan Du & Jiayi Zhou & Jianjian Liu & Xuhao Yang & Hanxu Wang & Meikun He & Zongfu Mao & Xiaojun Liu, 2019. "Social-Demographic Correlates of the Mental Health Conditions among the Chinese Elderly," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7114-:d:297012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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