The influence of residential facilities on depression and frailty of the elderly in rural China: Evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study

In the context of rural revitalization and the increasing prevalence of aging population, the mental health of older adults in rural China has become an issue of widespread social concern. There is an association between rural living environments and depression in rural older adults, but little is known about research on residential facilities and depression in rural older adults. Based on data from the 2014–2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study explores the relationship between residential facilities, frailty and depression among rural older adults. The results show that the number of residential facilities can alleviate the level of depression among rural older adults through partial mediation of frailty. In other words, the more residential facilities there are, the less frail the older adults will be, thereby reducing the risk of depression. The lack of bathing facilities, broadband, and toilets within the household will exacerbate the level of frailty and depression among rural older adults. Paying attention to improving the living environment and residential facilities, reducing frailty, will effectively reduce the problem of depression among rural older adults, which has important implications for the health of rural older adults in China.