Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being.
<h4>Background</h4>In 2007, a non-contributory pension program was launched in rural areas of Mexico. The program consisted in a non-conditional cash transfer of US$40 monthly to all older adults (OA) aged 70 and over. We evaluate the effect of the program on mental well-being of its ben...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113085 |
| _version_ | 1818359677608525824 |
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| author | Aarón Salinas-Rodríguez Ma Del Pilar Torres-Pereda Betty Manrique-Espinoza Karla Moreno-Tamayo Martha María Téllez-Rojo Solís |
| author_facet | Aarón Salinas-Rodríguez Ma Del Pilar Torres-Pereda Betty Manrique-Espinoza Karla Moreno-Tamayo Martha María Téllez-Rojo Solís |
| author_sort | Aarón Salinas-Rodríguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>In 2007, a non-contributory pension program was launched in rural areas of Mexico. The program consisted in a non-conditional cash transfer of US$40 monthly to all older adults (OA) aged 70 and over. We evaluate the effect of the program on mental well-being of its beneficiaries.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. For the quantitative component, we used the selection criteria established by the program (age and locality size) to form the Intervention (OA aged 70-74 residing in rural localities, <2500 inhabitants) and Control groups (OA aged 70-74, in localities with 2501-2700 inhabitants). Baseline data collection was conducted in 2007 where 5,465 OA were interviewed. The follow-up survey was conducted in 2008, and it was possible to interview 5,270 OA, with a response rate of 96%. A difference-in-difference linear probability model with individual fixed effect was used to estimate the impact of the program on mental well-being indicators. In 2009 a qualitative component was designed to explore possible causal pathways of such effect.<h4>Results</h4>After a year of exposure, the program had a significant effect on reduction of depressive symptoms (β = -0.06, CI95% -0.12; -0.01) and an increase in empowerment indicators: OA participated in important household decisions (β = 0.09, CI95% 0.03;0.15); and OA participated in household decisions pertaining to expenses (β = 0.11, CI95% 0.05;0.18). Qualitative analysis found a strong trend showing a reduction of sadness, and feeling of increasing empowerment.<h4>Conclusions</h4>These results suggest that a non-conditional transfer in older ages have an impact beyond the economic sphere, impacting even the mental well-being. This effect could be explained because the pension produces feelings of safety and welfare. It is recommendable that governments should invest efforts towards universalizing the non-contributory pension programs in order to ensure a basic income for the elderly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:48:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fe23fbf10544a37abda82e75ca32ed7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:48:42Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fe23fbf10544a37abda82e75ca32ed72022-12-21T23:31:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-01911e11308510.1371/journal.pone.0113085Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being.Aarón Salinas-RodríguezMa Del Pilar Torres-PeredaBetty Manrique-EspinozaKarla Moreno-TamayoMartha María Téllez-Rojo Solís<h4>Background</h4>In 2007, a non-contributory pension program was launched in rural areas of Mexico. The program consisted in a non-conditional cash transfer of US$40 monthly to all older adults (OA) aged 70 and over. We evaluate the effect of the program on mental well-being of its beneficiaries.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. For the quantitative component, we used the selection criteria established by the program (age and locality size) to form the Intervention (OA aged 70-74 residing in rural localities, <2500 inhabitants) and Control groups (OA aged 70-74, in localities with 2501-2700 inhabitants). Baseline data collection was conducted in 2007 where 5,465 OA were interviewed. The follow-up survey was conducted in 2008, and it was possible to interview 5,270 OA, with a response rate of 96%. A difference-in-difference linear probability model with individual fixed effect was used to estimate the impact of the program on mental well-being indicators. In 2009 a qualitative component was designed to explore possible causal pathways of such effect.<h4>Results</h4>After a year of exposure, the program had a significant effect on reduction of depressive symptoms (β = -0.06, CI95% -0.12; -0.01) and an increase in empowerment indicators: OA participated in important household decisions (β = 0.09, CI95% 0.03;0.15); and OA participated in household decisions pertaining to expenses (β = 0.11, CI95% 0.05;0.18). Qualitative analysis found a strong trend showing a reduction of sadness, and feeling of increasing empowerment.<h4>Conclusions</h4>These results suggest that a non-conditional transfer in older ages have an impact beyond the economic sphere, impacting even the mental well-being. This effect could be explained because the pension produces feelings of safety and welfare. It is recommendable that governments should invest efforts towards universalizing the non-contributory pension programs in order to ensure a basic income for the elderly.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113085 |
| spellingShingle | Aarón Salinas-Rodríguez Ma Del Pilar Torres-Pereda Betty Manrique-Espinoza Karla Moreno-Tamayo Martha María Téllez-Rojo Solís Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. PLoS ONE |
| title | Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. |
| title_full | Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. |
| title_short | Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being. |
| title_sort | impact of the non contributory social pension program 70 y mas on older adults mental well being |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113085 |
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