Mass Relocation and Depression Among Seniors in China

Abstract

The study applies the stress process model to investigate the relationship between state-organized relocation (mass internal migration) and depression among older people in a rural region of Central China. The study is based on primary data that our research team collected on 613 respondents from 25 villages in November-December 2011 and 507 respondents from 36 villages in March-April 2013. Two-stage probit least squares models assess the impact of relocation on depression and whether social support influences this relationship. Our findings demonstrate that migrants have higher levels of depression than nonmigrants, after controlling for selection into migration and risk factors. However, postmigration losses of emotional, instrumental, and financial support do not account for the gap in depression between migrants and nonmigrants. Levels of depression are similar between nonmigrants and migrants relocated for infrastructure projects, poverty alleviation, or disaster management. Only migrants relocated to conserve sensitive ecological areas have higher levels of depression than nonmigrants. This suggests that project-induced displacement is not as detrimental for the mental health of seniors as previous studies demonstrate it is for younger people. Agency is an important factor in postmigration outcomes. Migrants who can self-determine their place of resettlement have more favorable outcomes than others.

Keywords: China; depression; elderly individuals; mental health; migration.