scholarly journals TRADITIONAL NETWORK ON MENTAL HEALTH: SUPPORT FROM CHILDREN AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS FOR OLDER ADULTS IN RURAL CHINA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S511-S512
Author(s):  
Lei Chen ◽  
Fernando Torres-Gil
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Rural China ◽  
National Level ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Older Parents ◽  
Number Of Children

Abstract In rural China, support from children is the traditional network for older adults. Their mental health problem is poorly understood and remains unsolved. The study aims to explore the relationships between older adults’ depressive symptoms and characteristics of support from children under the current social-structural conditions in rural China. The study is informed by the intergenerational solidarity theory and the theoretical framework of social relationships and their influence on health. The quantitative study is based on the recent wave of Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (Harmonized CHARLS) in 2015, which is a high-quality national-level dataset. The study applies conditional process analysis to do the data analysis. The key findings include: the number of children has a negative association with older adults’ depressive symptoms (c= -.2390, p=.0002<0.05); the number of children influenced older adults’ depressive symptoms indirectly through financial support from children (If children do not live with older parents, ab=-.0141, CI= -.393 to -.0038; If children live with older parents, ab=-.0153, CI= -.369 to -.0056;). However, both theses direct and indirect relationships do not depend on the co-residence situation between older adults and their children. The controlling variables include age, gender, and self-rated health. Under China’s current transition period of population policy, this study provides policy implications regards to the characteristics of children support and their influence on older adults’ mental health, especially in rural China. This study also tests the two theories to some extent under the Chinese context, which were initially developed in Western countries.

scholarly journals SEPARATED KIN: RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND MENTAL HEALTH TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEFT BEHIND IN RURAL CHINA

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S880-S880
Author(s):  
Zhiyong Lin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Migrant Children ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
The Impact

Abstract As the processes of urbanization and globalization have intensified across the world, a burgeoning literature has documented the impact of emigration on the health of family members left behind in emigrant communities. Although the association between children’s migration and parental well-being is well documented, few have examined the health implications of children’s migration in the milieu of multiple children and further differentiated between children’s short-term and long-term migration. Therefore, I argue that it is not the geographic locality of a single child but the composition of all children’s location that matters. I further suggest that the impact of children’s migration on parental wellbeing is conditioned on the duration of children’s migration. Using a six waves longitudinal data (2001-2015) collected in rural China, this paper compares mental health (measured as depressive symptoms) trajectories of old adults (aged 60 and older) across different compositions of local and migrant children over a 14-year span. Results from growth curve models show that parents having more migrant children relative to local children experience a more rapid increase in depressive symptoms. In addition, older adults who have their most children migrate away for three or more waves of data have experienced the steepest rate of increase in depressive symptoms. These findings provide new evidence to support the life course processes of mental health disparities among older adults from the perspective of intergenerational proximity.

scholarly journals Public Pension, Labor Force Participation, and Depressive Symptoms across Gender among Older Adults in Rural China: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3193
Author(s):  
Xin Gao ◽  
Tieying Feng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Labor Force Participation ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Public Pension ◽  
Pension Scheme

Due to insufficient financial support and unceasing work, the rural elderly in China experience a range of mental disorders, and the most common one is depression. This study aims to investigate the association between public pension, labor force participation (LFP), and depressive symptoms for older men and women in rural China. A moderated mediation analysis is conducted using data in the 2015 wave extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a continuous national social survey. A total of 2709 available surveys were obtained in our analysis. Using PROCESS, results revealed that the income from China’s New Rural Pension Scheme (NRPS) was directly negatively related to depressive symptoms. However, LFP did not mediate the link between pension income (PI) and depressive symptoms in the total study population. The results of moderated mediation estimates indicated that gender significantly moderated the relationship between LFP and depressive symptoms. Specifically, for older women, the indirect effect of PI on depressive symptoms via LFP was significant, but not for the opposite sex. In order to improve the mental health of older adults in rural China, the policy makers and mental health therapists need to pay attention to the aforementioned factors.

scholarly journals Profile Groups Based on Lifestyle and Differences in Mental Health and Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 404-404
Author(s):  
Joseph Kim ◽  
Kyuree Kim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Mean Differences

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the profiles of older adults according to lifestyle. Data for the study were from the 2017 Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS). CAMS 2017 is a questionnaire mailed to a sub-sample of respondents from the Health and Retirement Study. Participants were limited to older adults 65 and older, and the final sample consisted of 1136 older adults. The sample included 443 men and 693 women. Caucasians comprised 82.0% of the participants. Lifestyle was measured through items assessing the amount of time spent on activities. Due to high skewness, the items were dichotomized, 0=no time spent on activity and 1=time spent on the activity. Latent class analysis (LCA) was performed to identify groups based on lifestyle. LCA is a person-centered approach for identifying unobserved subgroups based on similarity in responses to items. Three lifestyle groups were identified. Group 1 was “Outgoing” with 471 individuals. Group 2 was “Adequate” with 229 individuals. Group 3 was “Inactive” with 436 individuals. An ANOVA was then conducted to assess mean differences in self-rated health, cognition, depressive symptoms, and loneliness for the three lifestyle groups. The “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups had significantly higher scores on self-rated health and cognition, and in addition, significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms and loneliness compared to the “Inactive” group. No significant differences were observed between the “Outgoing” and “Adequate” groups. An implication from this study is the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in later life for better mental health and cognition.

scholarly journals Adult Children’s Support and Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms Among Disabled Chinese Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 751-751
Author(s):  
Jianyun Wang ◽  
Renyao Zhong ◽  
Yaolin Pei ◽  
Bei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Lower Risk ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Growth Mixture Model ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Growth Mixture

Abstract This study aimed to examine the trajectory of depressive symptoms among Chinese older adults with disabilities and the role of adult children’s support in predicting trajectory classes of depressive symptoms. Data were drawn from three waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015). The sample included 1420 disabled older adults age 60+ at the baseline and completed all three waves of the data. Growth mixture model shows two-class depressive symptoms trajectories: the higher risk group (25.49%) and the lower risk group (74.51%). Logistic regression results showed that respondents who received a longer term of adult children’s instrumental support were more likely to be classified in a higher risk group after controlling the covariates (OR=1.184, p<0.05), while financial support and the frequency of contacts were not associated with the increased level of depressive symptoms. The policy implications were also discussed in this study.

The associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms in older adults: a community-based survey in rural China

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1226-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanhong Gong ◽  
Xiaopiao Wen ◽  
Chaoping Guan ◽  
Zhiqing Wang ◽  
Yuan Liang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Negative Life Events ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Life Event ◽  
The Past

ABSTRACTBackground: The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between family characteristics and depressive symptoms, and provide new evidence and recommendations for prevention and intervention in the depressive symptoms of older adults.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted door-to-door, utilizing a sample of 1,317 individuals aged 60 years and above in rural China. The five family characteristic variables recorded were: living with spouse, living with descendant, support of family members, self-reported family economic status in the previous year, and family-related negative life events that occurred anytime in the past with a continuous psychological effect during the past 12 months. Gender, age, years of schooling, and self-rated physical health status were taken as potential confounders. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine independent effects on depressive symptoms.Results: In addition to the potential confounders, only family-related negative life events, support of family members, and self-reported family economic status had significant effects on depressive symptoms in older adults. Experiencing a family-related negative life event was the most significant variable (OR = 11.70, 95% CI: 7.72–17.73), the second was support of family members (OR = 6.93, 95% CI: 3.26–14.70), while family economic status was less important than support of family members (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.08–5.25).Conclusion: This study, from the perspective of family characteristics on depressive symptoms in older adults, showed a strong correlation between being exposed to harmful family environments and depressive symptoms among the elderly. Efforts to address family risk factors and strengthen family cohesiveness deserve a higher priority, given the importance of these factors, compared with other efforts such as promoting economic development.

scholarly journals Loneliness, hopelessness and suicide in later life: a case–control psychological autopsy study in rural China

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Niu ◽  
Cunxian Jia ◽  
Zhenyu Ma ◽  
Guojun Wang ◽  
Bin Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Autopsy ◽  
Tree Model ◽  
Elderly Suicide

Abstract Aims Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a serious public health issue worldwide. However, there is scarce research addressing the association between loneliness and suicide in older adults in rural China. We set out to examine loneliness and other psychosocial factors in elderly suicide cases and explore their interaction effects. Methods Using a 1 : 1 matched case–control design, data were collected from 242 elderly suicide cases and 242 living community controls by psychological autopsy method in rural China, including demographic characteristics, loneliness, depression, hopelessness and social support. The chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) tree model and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to explore the relationships of these factors and suicide. Results The CHAID tree model showed that loneliness, hopelessness and depressive symptoms were closely associated with completed suicide and that loneliness and hopelessness interacted with each other. The result of multivariable logistic regression showed that individuals who were unemployed [odds ratio (OR) = 2.344; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.233–4.457], living alone (OR = 2.176; 95% CI: 1.113–4.254), had lower levels of subjective social support (OR = 2.185; 95% CI: 1.243–3.843), experienced depressive symptoms (OR = 6.700; 95% CI: 3.405–13.182), showed higher levels of hopelessness (OR = 7.253; 95% CI: 3.764–13.974) and felt higher levels of hopelessness × higher levels of loneliness (OR = 2.446; 95% CI: 1.089–5.492) were significantly associated with an elevated suicide risk in older people in rural China. Conclusions Regular evaluation of loneliness, hopelessness and depression can help detect older adults who are at risk of committing suicide. Interventions should target social support systems, particularly among people living alone, to alleviate feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Treating depression is also key to preventing suicide among elderly people in rural China.

scholarly journals Depression and Psychological Well-Being as Distinct Constructs: Mutually Exclusive Associations With Biomarker

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 251-251
Author(s):  
Kheng Siang Ted Ng ◽  
Shu Cheng Wong ◽  
Glenn Wong ◽  
Ee Heok Kua ◽  
Anis Larbi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Factor Score ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
The Other ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Despite increasing emphasis on assessing the mental health of older adults, there has been inconclusive evidence on whether depression and psychological well-being (PWB) are fundamentally distinct constructs or representations of the opposite ends of the mental health spectrum. To instantiate either hypothesis, investigation of the associations between mental health scales and biomarkers have been proposed. First, we assessed depressive symptoms and PWB in community-dwelling older adults (N=59, mean age=67) using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Ryff’s Scale of PWB (comprising six sub-scales). We measured a wide range of immune markers employing ELISA and flow cytometry. Subsequently, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to aggregate and derived biomarker factor scores. Lastly, multiple linear regressions were performed to examine the associations between the scales and the derived biomarker factor scores, controlling for covariates. PCA extracted six biomarker factors. Biomarker factor score 1 was significantly associated with PWB (β=-0.029, p=0.035) and the PWB sub-scale, self-acceptance (β=-0.089, p=0.047), while biomarker factor score 4 was significantly associated with the PWB sub-scale, purpose in life (β=-0.087, p=0.025). On the other hand, biomarker factor 6 was significantly associated with SDS (β=-0.070, p=0.008). There were mutually- exclusive associations between the scales with biomarker factor scores, supporting the hypothesis of distinct constructs. Our findings expanded the biomarkers of depression and PWB, deepening understanding of the biological underpinnings of depressive symptoms and PWB. These findings have implications in field work, since researchers could not infer one construct from the other, the examination of both constructs are essential.

scholarly journals Association between functional disability and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural China: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Rong ◽  
Yanhong Ge ◽  
Xueqin Wang ◽  
Guimei Chen ◽  
Hong Ding
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Functional Disability ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Classification And Regression Tree ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: The association between functional disability and depressive symptoms among elderly people in rural China is not clear. This study explored the relationship between functional disability and depressive symptoms, focusing on whether an interactive association between functional disability, demographic characteristics and depressive symptoms exists among older adults in rural Anhui, China.Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with multi-stage stratified random sampling. The 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 were used to evaluate depressive symptoms and functional disability, respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistics 25.0 program with chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, binary logistic regression analysis, and classification and regression tree model.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in 3336 older people was 52.94%. After adjustment, subjects who had problems in participation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=3.499, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.385-4.987), life activities (AOR=1.683, 95% CI: 1.370-2.066), getting along (AOR=1.616, 95% CI: 1.299-2.010), and mobility (AOR=1.842, 95% CI: 1.503-2.258) had an increased depressive symptoms risk. However, cognition (AOR=0.785, 95% CI: 0.647-0.953) negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, the interactive association between functional disability dimensions, various variables and depressive symptoms were identified for the first time. Those who had problems in mobility, getting along and were unemployed, the possibility of having depressive symptoms was the highest.Conclusions: Special attention should be paid to unemployed older adults, and those with problems in participation, life activities, getting along, and mobility and no problems in cognition to maintain a good psychological state. Our findings may be greatly significant for developing more targeted and effective mental health prevention and intervention measures for older adults in rural areas.

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