Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China

Abstract Air pollution has been increasingly associated with heightened mental health risks. However, there is a scarcity of nationwide research addressing the mental health issue of rural older adults, as well as a lack of thorough investigations into the underlying issues of health inequality. Thi...

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Main Authors: Zhenhua Zheng, Linquan Chen, Ning Sun, Yilin Jin, Yuetong Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2024-12-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04233-5
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author Zhenhua Zheng
Linquan Chen
Ning Sun
Yilin Jin
Yuetong Wang
author_facet Zhenhua Zheng
Linquan Chen
Ning Sun
Yilin Jin
Yuetong Wang
author_sort Zhenhua Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Air pollution has been increasingly associated with heightened mental health risks. However, there is a scarcity of nationwide research addressing the mental health issue of rural older adults, as well as a lack of thorough investigations into the underlying issues of health inequality. This study leverages data from the 2014–2018 “China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey” to conduct a comprehensive longitudinal analysis utilizing latent growth models and random intercept cross-lagged panel models. The findings reveal a concerning trend of worsening depressive symptoms among rural Chinese older adults, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. PM2.5 concentrations significantly contribute to depression in this population. PM2.5 pollution exhibit a indicative association with depressive symptoms in the lagged periods, with standard influence coefficients of 0.089 and 0.073, respectively. However, this association is only observed in middle- and low-income groups, with no evidence found in high-income groups. Data suggest that lower income levels heighten vulnerability to the adverse effects of PM2.5 on mental health, with low-income rural older adults being the most severely affected subgroup. This implies that there are health inequalities related to the impact of air pollution among elderly populations of different income levels. Consequently, targeted interventions aimed at addressing the disparities in rural are essential for mitigating these inequalities and improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
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spelling doaj-art-464fd683764d408ea75a9d113711be8e2025-08-20T02:40:21ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922024-12-0111111410.1057/s41599-024-04233-5Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in ChinaZhenhua Zheng0Linquan Chen1Ning Sun2Yilin Jin3Yuetong Wang4College of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Publishing, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyAbstract Air pollution has been increasingly associated with heightened mental health risks. However, there is a scarcity of nationwide research addressing the mental health issue of rural older adults, as well as a lack of thorough investigations into the underlying issues of health inequality. This study leverages data from the 2014–2018 “China Longitudinal Ageing Social Survey” to conduct a comprehensive longitudinal analysis utilizing latent growth models and random intercept cross-lagged panel models. The findings reveal a concerning trend of worsening depressive symptoms among rural Chinese older adults, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. PM2.5 concentrations significantly contribute to depression in this population. PM2.5 pollution exhibit a indicative association with depressive symptoms in the lagged periods, with standard influence coefficients of 0.089 and 0.073, respectively. However, this association is only observed in middle- and low-income groups, with no evidence found in high-income groups. Data suggest that lower income levels heighten vulnerability to the adverse effects of PM2.5 on mental health, with low-income rural older adults being the most severely affected subgroup. This implies that there are health inequalities related to the impact of air pollution among elderly populations of different income levels. Consequently, targeted interventions aimed at addressing the disparities in rural are essential for mitigating these inequalities and improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04233-5
spellingShingle Zhenhua Zheng
Linquan Chen
Ning Sun
Yilin Jin
Yuetong Wang
Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
title_full Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
title_fullStr Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
title_full_unstemmed Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
title_short Pollution, hazards, and health inequalities: a longitudinal exploration of the impact of PM2.5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in China
title_sort pollution hazards and health inequalities a longitudinal exploration of the impact of pm2 5 on depression among rural older adults with different incomes in china
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-04233-5
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