Aging Ment Health. 2022 Jul 13:1-10. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2022.2098912. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Understanding longitudinal patterns of rural-urban mental health disparities is vital for effective intervention and policy development in China. However, few studies have estimated separate effects of birth-cohort and ageing and examined the role of community resources on health inequalities.
METHODS: Drawing data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018), this study employed multilevel modelling to identify the mental health trajectories of rural, peri-urban, urban older adults by cohort and the community effects.
RESULTS: The changes in the mental health gap between rural, peri-urban and urban older adults over time varied by birth cohorts. Among younger cohorts aged under 65, the mental health disparities between rural, peri-urban and urban residents increased as they got older. Underdeveloped community infrastructure greatly explained the rural health disadvantage.
CONCLUSION: The study indicates increasing rural-urban health disparities at the onset of later life. Improving community infrastructure in rural and peri-urban areas is vital to minimise rural-urban health gaps.
PMID:35822456 | DOI:10.1080/13607863.2022.2098912
