Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in older adults. Community social capital and depressive symptoms in older adults have been discussed in previous studies but remain limited. This study aims to explore the association between community social capital an...

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Main Authors: Le Yang, Yang Yang, Yuting Guo, Zeyuan Li, Qi Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21483-3
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author Le Yang
Yang Yang
Yuting Guo
Zeyuan Li
Qi Yu
author_facet Le Yang
Yang Yang
Yuting Guo
Zeyuan Li
Qi Yu
author_sort Le Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in older adults. Community social capital and depressive symptoms in older adults have been discussed in previous studies but remain limited. This study aims to explore the association between community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in China. Methods Through the multi-stage stratified sampling, 1882 relocated older adults (≥ 60) were surveyed in 24 resettlement sites in Shanxi Province, China. Community social capital was measured in civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 10-item CES-D scale. Results There were 49.5% of relocated older adults reported significant depressive symptoms. We found that the relocated older adults who did not participate in leisure-time activities showed higher odds of reporting significant depressive symptoms compared to those who participated [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.360, 95% CI: 1.060 ~ 1.745], the relocated older adults who gave negative responses in community trust were more likely to report significant depressive symptoms compared to those who gave positive responses (AOR: 1.461, 95% CI: 1.126 ~ 1.896), and those who did not receive emotional support in their community showed 33.6% higher odds of reporting significant depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.336, 95% CI: 1.015 ~ 1.757) after controlling for all potential confounders. Conclusions Leisure-time activity participation, community trust, and receiving emotional support were associated with depressive symptoms of older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China. Targeted interventions on community social capital for relocated older adults are needed for mental health promotion.
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spelling doaj-art-6cc90991ffb34041a45cfcb24ce8d2122025-01-26T12:56:44ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21483-3Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional studyLe Yang0Yang Yang1Yuting Guo2Zeyuan Li3Qi Yu4School of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversitySchool of Management, Shanxi Medical UniversityAbstract Background Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in older adults. Community social capital and depressive symptoms in older adults have been discussed in previous studies but remain limited. This study aims to explore the association between community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in China. Methods Through the multi-stage stratified sampling, 1882 relocated older adults (≥ 60) were surveyed in 24 resettlement sites in Shanxi Province, China. Community social capital was measured in civic participation, social cohesion, and reciprocity. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the 10-item CES-D scale. Results There were 49.5% of relocated older adults reported significant depressive symptoms. We found that the relocated older adults who did not participate in leisure-time activities showed higher odds of reporting significant depressive symptoms compared to those who participated [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.360, 95% CI: 1.060 ~ 1.745], the relocated older adults who gave negative responses in community trust were more likely to report significant depressive symptoms compared to those who gave positive responses (AOR: 1.461, 95% CI: 1.126 ~ 1.896), and those who did not receive emotional support in their community showed 33.6% higher odds of reporting significant depressive symptoms (AOR: 1.336, 95% CI: 1.015 ~ 1.757) after controlling for all potential confounders. Conclusions Leisure-time activity participation, community trust, and receiving emotional support were associated with depressive symptoms of older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China. Targeted interventions on community social capital for relocated older adults are needed for mental health promotion.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21483-3Community social capitalDepressive symptomsOlder adultsRelocation for poverty alleviationChina
spellingShingle Le Yang
Yang Yang
Yuting Guo
Zeyuan Li
Qi Yu
Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
BMC Public Health
Community social capital
Depressive symptoms
Older adults
Relocation for poverty alleviation
China
title Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
title_full Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
title_short Community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in Shanxi, China: a cross-sectional study
title_sort community social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults relocated for poverty alleviation in shanxi china a cross sectional study
topic Community social capital
Depressive symptoms
Older adults
Relocation for poverty alleviation
China
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21483-3
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