Market Transition, Occupational Status, and Depression in Urban China: A Population-based Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of ecological-level marketization, individual-level occupational status, and their interaction, on depression in residents in urban China. Population-based data (N = 13,004) from the 2016 China Family Panel Survey were used. A multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear model explored whether and to what extent market transition measured by the marketization index (MI), occupational status measured by international socio-economic index (ISEI), and their interaction, affected people’s depression. Results showed that higher MI (b = –.157, p < .001) and ISEI scores (b = –.124, p < .001) were associated with lower levels of depression. However, residents with high occupational status might suffer a uniquely elevated level of depression when living in highly marketized cities (b = .139, p < .05). Raising the public mental health awareness of residents with low occupational status from low marketized areas and that of residents with high occupational status from high marketized areas is warranted in societies undergoing rapid marketization, such as China.