Employment and Mental Health of the Chinese Elderly: Evidence from CHARLS 2018

Yanrong Cheng, Jian Lan and Qinying Ci ()
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Yanrong Cheng: School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Jian Lan: College of State Governance, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Qinying Ci: School of Sociology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Improving the mental health of the elderly has become an important strategic goal of healthy aging, among which employment is regarded as an essential factor for the mental health of the elderly. This study adopted ordinary least squares, ordered logit, propensity score matching (PSM), and KHB mediation analysis to examine the influence and mechanism of employment on mental health in older Chinese adults using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey of 2018. The study found that employment positively impacts older adults’ mental health in China. This promotive effect of employment was significant for more senior people aged up to 80 years old with lower educational backgrounds and rural household registration. In addition, individual annual income, the financial support provided to children, and support received from children significantly mediate the realization of employment improving older people’s mental health. Our findings are expected to provide valuable insight into delayed retirement and active aging in China. Therefore, the government must play the role of support and advocacy to promote employment and safeguard the well-being of older adults.

Keywords: employment; mental health; Chinese older people; individual annual income; financial support provided to children; support received from children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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