收入对老年人抑郁水平的非线性影响研究——来自CHARLS数据的经验证据

The nonlinear effect of income on the depression levels of the elderly——empirical evidence from CHARLS

文章采用2018年中国健康与养老追踪调查数据,实证分析收入对老年人抑郁水平的影响。研究发现,随着收入的增加,老年人的精神抑郁水平显著降低。多重门槛回归估计结果表明,收入对老年人抑郁水平的影响存在双重门槛效应。收入的影响呈现非线性,随着收入水平的提高,收入对老年人精神健康的影响水平降低。进一步研究显示,城市老年人和男性老年人具有更高的收入门槛值,同时农村老年人和男性老年人表现出更加复杂的非线性变化。建议提高老年人保障水平,共享经济社会发展成果;开发老年人力资源,保障低龄老年人群体再就业;鼓励老年人参与社会活动,提供非现金方式的社会支持。

Using the 2018 CHARLS data,this paper empirically analyzes the impact of income on the depression level of elderly people.Research has found that as income increases,the level of depression among the elderly significantly decreases,thereby improving their mental health level.The multiple⁃threshold regression estimation results indicate that income has a dual threshold effect on the depression level in elderly people.The effect of income is non⁃linear,and as the income level increases,the positive impact of income on the mental health of the elderly decreases.Further research shows that urban and male elderly people have higher income thresholds,while rural and male elderly people exhibit more complex non⁃linear changes.Finally,this paper suggests improving the security level for the elderly and sharing the fruits of economic and social development;developing human resources for the young elderly and ensuring their re⁃employment;encouraging elderly people to participate in social activities and providing non⁃cash social support.