Predictive effect of neighborhood disadvantage on depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults : social support and children’s marital status as intervening factors

Abstract

Depressive symptoms among Chinese middle-aged and older adults have risen substantially in recent years, yet how neighborhood and family factors relate to mental health remains insufficiently understood in China. Using survey data from 1,177 respondents in Chengdu, this study examines associations between neighborhood disadvantage and depressive symptoms, with attention to the mediating role of social support and moderating role of children’s marital status. Results indicate that neighborhood disadvantage is associated with higher depression, and instrumental and emotional support appear to mediate this association. Children’s marital status moderates the relationship: unmarried sons are linked with amplified negative effects of neighborhood disadvantage on parental mental health, reflecting unique cultural dynamics of filial piety in China. These findings suggest that community-level structural disadvantage intersects with family pressures to shape psychological well-being in aging populations.