Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China
ObjectivesIntergenerational support is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in old age. Uneven development has resulted in huge urban–rural disparities in China, which could lead to different intergenerational relationships. The present study aimed to examine whether intergenerational support w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1007408/full |
| _version_ | 1797988590800601088 |
|---|---|
| author | Chenxi Wang Chenxi Wang Zhengkui Liu Zhengkui Liu Tianyong Chen Tianyong Chen Jinfeng Wang Jinfeng Wang Xin Zhang Buxin Han Buxin Han |
| author_facet | Chenxi Wang Chenxi Wang Zhengkui Liu Zhengkui Liu Tianyong Chen Tianyong Chen Jinfeng Wang Jinfeng Wang Xin Zhang Buxin Han Buxin Han |
| author_sort | Chenxi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectivesIntergenerational support is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in old age. Uneven development has resulted in huge urban–rural disparities in China, which could lead to different intergenerational relationships. The present study aimed to examine whether intergenerational support was associated with depressive symptoms differently among urban and rural Chinese older participants.MethodsA sample of 3,498 participants from nine pairs of urban subdistricts and rural villages were included in the present study. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the intergenerational support mechanisms (financial, instrumental, and emotional) were assessed with a self-designed questionnaire.ResultsSignificant areas by support effect for depressive symptoms indicated different associations between intergenerational financial and emotional support and depressive symptoms in urban and rural areas. Specifically, urban older participants receiving emotional support from adult children and rural older participants receiving financial support from adult children showed fewer depressive symptoms. In both areas, participants receiving instrumental support showed fewer depressive symptoms.ConclusionOur study is the first to compare the urban–rural disparity in association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in a developing country, China. The results support modernization theories proposing weakened economic function but intensified emotional ties in societies with higher level of development. Communication-based intergenerational emotional support should be promoted in urban areas, and formal support systems should provide financial and instrumental support to the vulnerable rural older population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:05:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc969e5131dd49a7a3752244a95ccddf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:05:26Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc969e5131dd49a7a3752244a95ccddf2022-12-22T04:35:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652022-11-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.10074081007408Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural ChinaChenxi Wang0Chenxi Wang1Zhengkui Liu2Zhengkui Liu3Tianyong Chen4Tianyong Chen5Jinfeng Wang6Jinfeng Wang7Xin Zhang8Buxin Han9Buxin Han10CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaObjectivesIntergenerational support is associated with fewer depressive symptoms in old age. Uneven development has resulted in huge urban–rural disparities in China, which could lead to different intergenerational relationships. The present study aimed to examine whether intergenerational support was associated with depressive symptoms differently among urban and rural Chinese older participants.MethodsA sample of 3,498 participants from nine pairs of urban subdistricts and rural villages were included in the present study. Depressive symptoms were measured by the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the intergenerational support mechanisms (financial, instrumental, and emotional) were assessed with a self-designed questionnaire.ResultsSignificant areas by support effect for depressive symptoms indicated different associations between intergenerational financial and emotional support and depressive symptoms in urban and rural areas. Specifically, urban older participants receiving emotional support from adult children and rural older participants receiving financial support from adult children showed fewer depressive symptoms. In both areas, participants receiving instrumental support showed fewer depressive symptoms.ConclusionOur study is the first to compare the urban–rural disparity in association between intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in a developing country, China. The results support modernization theories proposing weakened economic function but intensified emotional ties in societies with higher level of development. Communication-based intergenerational emotional support should be promoted in urban areas, and formal support systems should provide financial and instrumental support to the vulnerable rural older population.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1007408/fullintergenerational supportdepressionolder adultsurban Chinarural China |
| spellingShingle | Chenxi Wang Chenxi Wang Zhengkui Liu Zhengkui Liu Tianyong Chen Tianyong Chen Jinfeng Wang Jinfeng Wang Xin Zhang Buxin Han Buxin Han Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China Frontiers in Public Health intergenerational support depression older adults urban China rural China |
| title | Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China |
| title_full | Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China |
| title_fullStr | Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China |
| title_short | Intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age: The difference between urban and rural China |
| title_sort | intergenerational support and depressive symptoms in old age the difference between urban and rural china |
| topic | intergenerational support depression older adults urban China rural China |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1007408/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chenxiwang intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT chenxiwang intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT zhengkuiliu intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT zhengkuiliu intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT tianyongchen intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT tianyongchen intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT jinfengwang intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT jinfengwang intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT xinzhang intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT buxinhan intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina AT buxinhan intergenerationalsupportanddepressivesymptomsinoldagethedifferencebetweenurbanandruralchina |