The effects of subjective and objective socioeconomic status on older adults’ mental health in China: a life course-based perspective

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Abstract
Introduction: China has experienced unprecedented population aging and socioeconomic changes that have raised important questions regarding the determinants of life course strengths and weaknesses in health later in life. Studies have focused on the effect of childhood socioeconomic environments on older adults’ mental health. However, the mechanism of this impact remains unclear, and research on the effects of objective and subjective socioeconomic status on mental health is limited. Methods: This study used the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) dataset from 2018 and SEM to comprehensively examine the mechanism underlying the effect of socioeconomic status on the mental health of older adults in China from the life-course perspective. This study has systematically compared various dimensions of socioeconomic status, using both objective and subjective measures, and explored gender-based disparities on older adults’ mental health. Results: The results indicate that childhood socioeconomic status influences mental health through the mediating effect of older adults’ socioeconomic status. A high childhood objective socioeconomic status promotes mental health through the mechanism of older adults’ objective socioeconomic status, supporting the theories of social causation and economic choice. Moreover, childhood subjective socioeconomic status mediates the relationship between childhood objective socioeconomic status and older adults’ socioeconomic status. Furthermore, there is a noticeable difference in the impact of socioeconomic status on mental health between males and females, with the transmission of objective and subjective socioeconomic status being more significant among men and women, respectively. Discussion: The findings of this study underscore the importance of early interventions targeting socioeconomic status factors across the lifespan to maximize the prevention benefits and improve mental health among older adults in China.

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