Social trust and emotional health in rural older adults in China: the mediating and moderating role of subjective well-being and subjective social status

Abstract

Background China is becoming an aging society. The emotional health of the elderly is gaining importance. Social trust is an important factor affecting emotional health, but existing studies have rarely considered the various effects of different types of social trust on rural elderly emotional health. Few studies have analysed the role of subjective well-being and subjective social status in the relationship between social trust and elderly emotional health. Methods Using the data of the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 (CLDS 2016) and regression models, this study selected 2084 rural respondents aged 60 years and above to analyse the impact of social trust on their emotional health. Social trust was divided into three categories: trust in family members, trust in friends, and trust in neighbours. This study also examined the mediating and moderating effects of subjective well-being and subjective social status on the relationship between social trust and emotional health. Results Trust in family members was significantly and positively associated with emotional health (coefficient = 0.194, P < 0.01) and subjective well-being (coefficient = 0.177, P < 0.01). Trust in friends was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient = 0.097, P < 0.01; coefficient = 0.174, P < 0.01, respectively). Trust in neighbours was significantly and positively associated with emotional health and subjective well-being (coefficient = 0.088, P < 0.01; coefficient = 0.177, P < 0.01; respectively). Subjective well-being effectively reduced the impact of social trust in family, friends, and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly by 0.023, 0.022, and 0.023, respectively. Trust in friends and neighbours significantly and positively affected respondents’ subjective social status (coefficient = 0.120, P < 0.05; coefficient = 0.090, P < 0.10; respectively). Subjective social status effectively reduced the impact of social trust in friends and neighbours on the emotional health of the elderly both by 0.004. The positive relationship between trust in family members and emotional health is weakened by subjective well-being. Conclusions Social trust, especially family relationships, play an important role in maintaining the emotional health of the rural elderly. In response to population ageing, more social policies must be introduced to care for the rural elderly and help them lead a happy and satisfactory life.

Subjective social status and health among older adults in China: the longitudinal mediating role of social trust

“…First, older adults’ SSS increased steadily from 2014 to 2018, but the higher the initial level, the slower the growth rate, echoing the results of previous studies. Since 2017, the Chinese government has developed a multi-dimensional policy system and framework encompassing elderly care, health care, social security, social participation, rights and interests protection, etc., so that the subjective and objective social statuses of older adults have been greatly improved [ 48 ]. However, as older adults enter the later stage of life, their income, occupation, and living status tend to be stable, hence a slower increase in their SSS [ 82 ].…”

“…ST refers to the anticipations of members of society regarding normal, honest and cooperative behaviors based on shared social norms [ 47 ]. The higher one’s SSS, the stronger their sense of ST [ 48 ]. Meanwhile, people with high ST level tend to be healthier [ 49 ].…”

Subjective Social Status and Health among Older Adults in China: The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Social Trust

“…First, the elderly's SSS increased steadily from 2014 to 2018, but the higher the initial level, the slower the growth rate. Since 2017, the Chinese government has developed a multi-dimensional policy system and framework encompassing elderly care, health care, social security, social participation, rights and interests protection, etc., so that the subjective and objective social statuses of the elderly have been greatly improved [ 17 ]. Second, the ST of the elderly varied signi cantly from 2014 to 2018, but a higher initial level corresponded to a slower growth rate.…”

“…Social trust refers to the anticipations of members of society regarding normal, honest and cooperative behaviors based on shared social norms [16] . The higher one's SSS, the stronger their sense of ST [17] . SSS in uences trust because of its effect on people's relative vulnerability.…”

Comparing the impact of social support on the life satisfaction of widowed and non-widowed elders

“…The degree of social trust of the elderly towards different groups is different. Studies have shown that trust in family members, friends and neighbors has a significant positive impact on the emotional health, subjective well-being and social status of the elderly in rural China ( Chen and Zhu, 2021 ). Social trust has also been positively correlated with life satisfaction.…”