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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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    1. Ohrnberger, Julius & Fichera, Eleonora & Sutton, Matt, 2017. "The dynamics of physical and mental health in the older population," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 9(C), pages 52-62.
    2. Huan Wang & Jianyuan Huang & Shuangyue Sun, 2019. "Assessment of the Financial Sustainability of China’s New Rural Pension Plan: Does the Demographic Policy Reform Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Xin Xu & Yuan Zhao & Xinlin Zhang & Siyou Xia, 2018. "Identifying the Impacts of Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors on Population Aging in the Yangtze River Delta Using the Geographical Detector Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Rong Fu & Haruko Noguchi, 2016. "Does Marriage Make Us Healthier? Inter-Country Comparative Evidence from China, Japan, and Korea," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-15, February.
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    2. Mas Ayu Said & Govindamal Thangiah & Hazreen Abdul Majid & Rozmi Ismail & Tan Maw Pin & Hussein Rizal & Mohd Azlan Shah Zaidi & Daniel Reidpath & Tin Tin Su, 2022. "Income Disparity and Mental Wellbeing among Adults in Semi-Urban and Rural Areas in Malaysia: The Mediating Role of Social Capital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Mingna Li & Bo Zhou & Bingbin Hu, 2022. "Relationship between Income and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Huan Wu & Yaqing Liu, 2023. "Association Between Living Arrangements and Psychological Well-Being Among Older Adults in Rural China: Activities of Daily Living Disability as a Moderator," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    5. Jianjian Liu & Wei Yu & Jiayi Zhou & Yifan Yang & Shuoni Chen & Shaotang Wu, 2020. "Relationship between the Number of Noncommunicable Diseases and Health-Related Quality of Life in Chinese Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-11, July.

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