What makes reversal: examining the moderating effect of being a state functionary on occupational status and depression among middle-aged and older people in China.

Objectives: This study measured occupational status from the perspectives of occupational socioeconomic status, employment relationship, and class level, aiming to examine the effect of occupational status on depression among middle-aged and elderly people in China and determine whether being a state functionary plays a moderating role.

Methods: Panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (n = 28 645) were used and the year fixed-effects model was adopted. The 2-way interaction terms "state functionary × occupational status (the International Socioeconomic Index of Occupational Status [ISEI], the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale [SIOPS], and the Erikson and Goldthorpe class categories [EGP])" were added to examine whether being a state functionary could moderate the relationship between occupational status and depression.

Results: Occupational status was negatively correlated with depression (ISEI: coefficient = -0.03; 95% CI, -0.04 to -0.02; SIOPS: coefficient = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.02 to -0.002; EGP: coefficient = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.15). The 2-way interaction terms "state functionary × occupational status (ISEI/SIOPS/EGP)" were significant among all middle-aged and older participants. The 2-way interaction terms were also significant in the educated and urban subgroups.

Conclusions: Higher occupational status is a protective factor against depression among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, being a state functionary can reverse the relationship between occupational status and depression. We found that the higher the occupational status of state functionaries, the more severe their depression. We also found a moderating effect of being a state functionary in the educated and urban subgroups.