Rural-Urban Divide in Covid-19 Concerns and Mental Health of Older Adults in China
Author Information
Author(s): Liu Jingwen, Han Yang
Primary Institution: Rice University, Houston, Texas, United States
Hypothesis
Does the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbate rural-urban disparities in older adults' mental health?
Conclusion
The study found that local rural residents and rural-urban migrants have higher Covid concerns and depressive symptoms compared to local urban residents.
Supporting Evidence
- Local rural residents and rural-urban migrants show higher Covid concerns and depressive symptoms than local urban residents.
- Covid concerns are linked to higher depressive symptoms across all groups, especially among local rural residents.
- Changes in health habits and in-person meetings help explain the associations for both groups.
- Delayed medical services and increased preventive behaviors explain the association for local rural residents.
Takeaway
Older people living in rural areas worry more about Covid-19 and feel sadder than those in cities, and moving to a city doesn't completely fix their health problems.
Methodology
The study used OLS and KHB analyses on data from the 2020 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS).
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the reliance on self-reported data regarding mental health and Covid concerns.
Limitations
The study may not account for all factors influencing mental health disparities beyond the Hukou system.
Participant Demographics
Participants included local rural residents, rural-urban migrants, and local urban residents, with a total sample size of 12,193.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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