The effect of mental abuse on depression among older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation

WANG Yingying; LIU Lan; CHEN Gong

doi:10.16462/j.cnki.zhjbkz.2025.04.004

Volume 29 Issue 4

Apr. 2025

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WANG Yingying, LIU Lan, CHEN Gong. The effect of mental abuse on depression among older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION, 2025, 29(4): 393-398. doi: 10.16462/j.cnki.zhjbkz.2025.04.004

Citation:

WANG Yingying, LIU Lan, CHEN Gong. The effect of mental abuse on depression among older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION, 2025, 29(4): 393-398. doi: 10.16462/j.cnki.zhjbkz.2025.04.004

Citation:

WANG Yingying, LIU Lan, CHEN Gong. The effect of mental abuse on depression among older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF DISEASE CONTROL & PREVENTION, 2025, 29(4): 393-398. doi: 10.16462/j.cnki.zhjbkz.2025.04.004

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The effect of mental abuse on depression among older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation

doi: 10.16462/j.cnki.zhjbkz.2025.04.004

Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Funds:

Major Project of the National Social Science Fund on Studying and Interpreting the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China 23ZDA101

More Information

Corresponding author: CHEN Gong, E-mail: chengong@pku.edu.cn
Received Date: 2023-11-30
Rev Recd Date: 2025-01-03
Publish Date: 2025-04-10

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects and pathways of mental abuse on depression in the elderly. Methods Based on data from 2018 China longitudinal aging social survey (CLASS), this study involved 9 896 people aged 60 and over, used linear regression, propensity matching, and moderated mediating effect to analyze the effect of mental abuse on depression, as well as the mediating role of loneliness and the moderating role of social participation. Results Among 9 896 individuals aged ≥60 years, the older adults who suffered from mental abuse tended to have higher depression scores (β=1.346, 95% CI: 1.031-1.661) and worse mental health status. Loneliness played a mediating role between mental abuse and depression, with an indirect effect value of 0.495, accounting for 43.57% of the total effect. The degree of social participation played a moderating role in the relationship between mental abuse and loneliness (β=-0.049 5, P<0.001) and also loneliness and depression (β=-0.043 1, P<0.001). The mediating effect of loneliness in the relationship between mental abuse and depression of the elderly was gradually weakened with the increase of social participation. Conclusions The incidence of mental abuse among the elderly is relatively high and can positively predict depression score. Mental abuse can affect depression in the elderly through loneliness, and the mediating model is moderated by social participation.
- Mental abuse,
- Depression,
- Loneliness,
- Social participation,
- Moderated mediating effect

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References(19)

References

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