Household Assets, the Role of Government Assistance, and Depression Among Low-Income Families in Shanghai

Shiyou Wu (), Mimi V. Chapman (), Meihua Zhu () and Xiafei Wang ()
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Shiyou Wu: Arizona State University
Mimi V. Chapman: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Meihua Zhu: East China University of Science and Technology
Xiafei Wang: Syracuse University

Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, 2020, vol. 149, issue 2, No 8, 584 pages

Abstract: Abstract As China’s economy is rapidly changing from a planned to a capitalist economy, many families find themselves financially struggling. In some cases, conflicting values and attitudes may contribute to mental health challenges such as depression that would lead to further feelings of helplessness and immobilization. Using a random sample of 1006 low-income households from Pudong District of Shanghai, China, this study aims to examine the relationships between household assets, beliefs about government as the primary way to improve economic circumstances and self-reported depressive symptoms. In addition, this study investigates the mediation effects of beliefs that government is the best change agent for improved life circumstances on the relationship between household assets and depression. We found those who indicated that government was the main means for attaining a better life had significantly higher depression levels whereas higher numbers of household assets were associated with lower depression levels. We also found that viewing government as the most important change agent only partially mediated the relationship between household assets and depression (p

Keywords: Household assets; Government assistance; Low income; Poverty; Depression; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s11205-019-02251-4

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