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SHORT- AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN THE ELDERLY ACCORDING TO GENDER: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Wei Li, Huanhuan Jin, Linyun Zhang

ABSTRACT. This paper examined the short- and long-term effects of social activities on depressive symptoms in people above 60 according to gender in China. The method of CHARLS national data from 2011 and 2013 (n=4,745) was applied, the effects of frequencies of participating in unpaid activities, such as friendships, leisure, clubs at baseline in 2011 on depressive symptoms in the same year and at the follow up in 2013 were estimated using multiple linear regressions after controlling the confounding factors. Results show regardless of short-or long-term activities, all four social activities had positive linear effects on reducing depressive symptoms except unpaid work for men, while males had more significant relationships than females; there were fewer significant relationships in the long term than in the short term activities. This study indicates that social activities can generally relieve depressive symptoms. However, the characters of the relationships differed according to gender and time .

KEYWORDS:  social activities, depressive symptoms, the elderly, China.

JEL classification:  I15, J14, R23.