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The impact of women's off-farm employment on depressive symptoms: Evidence from rural China.
- Source :
-
Social Science & Medicine . Oct2022, Vol. 311, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- While China's economy has grown rapidly in recent decades, urban-rural inequalities in mental health have persisted, and depression is more prevalent among rural women. Using a nationally-representative survey data in China, this paper investigates the impact of women's off-farm employment on their depressive symptoms. Results from instrumental variable and individual fixed effects estimation show that women's participation in off-farm employment leads to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. We further take into account the confounding effects of working conditions, and the main results are robust. Moreover, off-farm employment enhances women's mental health mainly through pathways including increased absolute income, higher self-perceived relative income, more frequent healthy behaviors, increased likelihood of health investment, and obtaining more formal social support. Further evidence suggests that the depression-reducing effect of off-farm employment is more effective for those with more severe depressive symptoms, middle-aged and elderly persons, and women with lower body mass index. The findings have important implications for preventing depressive disorders and improving mental health in China and other developing countries. • We investigate the impact of women's off-farm employment on their depressive symptoms in rural China. • Women's participation in off-farm employment leads to a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. • Formal social supports derived from workplace are important mechanisms by which employment affects depressive symptoms. • The depression-reducing effect is more effective for women with more severe symptoms and middle-aged and elderly persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02779536
- Volume :
- 311
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 159416750
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115309