The Effect of Home- and Community-Based Eldercare Services on Depression in the Elderly: Evidence From China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey

IF 2.3 4区医学 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Health & Social Care in the Community Pub Date : 2026-04-09 DOI:10.1155/hsc/9920025

Mei Zhou, Xuan Zhou, Chunmei Liu, Yuxiao Chen

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Abstract

Objective

Aimed to examine the impact of home- and community-based eldercare services on depression in the elderly.

Methods

Data were obtained from the China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS) 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, the final sample comprised 33,437 observations. Leveraging a quasi-natural experimental design based on China’s pilot programs for home- and community-based eldercare services, a quasi-experimental staggered difference-in-differences analysis compared changes in depressive symptoms between exposed and unexposed elderly.

Results

The pilot programs for home- and community-based eldercare services significantly improved depressive symptoms among elderly individuals (Coef. = 0.962, 95% CI [0.299, 1.625], p = 0.005), and increased the probability of being nondepressed (Coef. = 0.120, 95% CI [0.032, 0.208], p = 0.008). Heterogeneity analyses indicated that the policy had a more pronounced impact on the elderly individuals characterized as urban, living with family, females, and those community engaged. Among the different service models, life care and psychological comfort services notably enhanced elderly mental health, while the effects of healthcare services were less effective.

Conclusion

Social support has a positive impact on the mental health of the elderly, and more comfort services are in demand, especially for rural and solitary older people.

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家庭和社区养老服务对老年人抑郁的影响：来自中国老龄化社会纵向调查的证据

目的探讨家庭和社区养老服务对老年人抑郁症的影响。方法数据来源于2014年、2016年、2018年和2020年中国老龄化纵向社会调查（CLASS），最终样本包括33,437个观察值。利用基于中国家庭和社区养老服务试点项目的准自然实验设计，准实验交错差异分析比较了暴露与未暴露的老年人抑郁症状的变化。结果家庭和社区老年护理服务试点方案显著改善了老年人的抑郁症状（Coef = 0.962, 95% CI [0.299, 1.625], p = 0.005），并增加了无抑郁的概率（Coef = 0.120, 95% CI [0.032, 0.208], p = 0.008）。异质性分析表明，政策对城市老年人、家庭老年人、女性老年人和社区老年人的影响更为显著。在不同的服务模式中，生活护理和心理安慰服务对老年人心理健康的促进作用显著，而保健服务的效果较差。结论社会支持对老年人心理健康有积极的影响，对舒适服务的需求增加，特别是对农村和独居老年人。

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来源期刊

Health & Social Care in the Community Multiple-

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

8.30%

发文量

423

期刊介绍： Health and Social Care in the community is an essential journal for anyone involved in nursing, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, general practice, health psychology, health economy, primary health care and the promotion of health. It is an international peer-reviewed journal supporting interdisciplinary collaboration on policy and practice within health and social care in the community. The journal publishes: - Original research papers in all areas of health and social care - Topical health and social care review articles - Policy and practice evaluations - Book reviews - Special issues