Objectives This study aimed to (1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and (2) evaluate whether there exists a rural–urban difference in such relationships. Methods Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Results Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. This association was consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.

Internet addiction among adolescents is an emerging public health issue. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between being bullied and internet addiction, and further to test the mediating effect of adult attachments on this relationship among Chinese rural adolescents. A total of 1,270 adolescents from three high schools in Henan province were recruited as subjects. Internet addiction was measured by Young’s internet addiction scale. This study showed that the prevalence of being bullied and addictive internet use among the recruited Chinese rural adolescents were 41.97% and 11.34%, respectively. Being bullied was significantly associated with internet addition. Adult attachment was found to mediate the association between being bullied and internet addiction. Higher anxiety attachment and lower close-dependent attachment partially explained the higher risk of internet addiction among the Chinese rural adolescents being bullied. This study suggests that the experience of being bullied can increase the risk of addictive internet use and that this risk can be mediated through adult attachments. This discovery supports the adoption of effective prevention programs to decrease school bullying and to improve adult attachments for adolescents in China and other countries.

Background: The prevalence of depressive symptoms has been steadily increasing in recent years, however middle aged and older adults was less likely to use mental health services. The aims of this study were to 1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and 2) evaluate whether there exists a rural-urban difference in such relationships. Methods: Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between depressive symptoms and health services utilization in the whole sample, and urban and rural subsamples respectively. Results: Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. In addition, the relationships between depressive symptoms and health service use were consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions: Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.

Background Elderly depressive symptoms are an increasing important issue worldwide. Poor neighborhood quality in childhood may increase the risk of depressive symptoms in old age from the perspective of life span theory. The aims of this study were to examine the association between the perception of neighborhood quality during childhood and depressive symptoms in older age.Methods Data was taken from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and a total of 7207 individuals aged 60 years or older were included. Robust multivariable linear regression analysis was applied to estimate the association between the perception of childhood community quality and depressive symptoms, and to examine the interaction effects of education and childhood community quality on depressive symptoms.Results This study suggested that individuals who perceived the childhood community as unsafe, deficient in close relationship, unclean demonstrated higher risk in suffering from depression. Furthermore, a significant gender difference has been found. However, no significant interaction effect of education revealed.Conclusion This study proposed that the perception of neighborhood quality during childhood is an important factor associated with depressive symptoms in old age. We urge that older adults’ mental health issues could be examined from a childhood neighborhood quality perspective, and call for further steps to promote neighborhood quality lived by Chinese citizens.

Objectives: This study aimed to 1) examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and health services utilization among Chinese middle-aged and older adults; and 2) evaluate whether there exists a rural-urban difference in such relationships. Methods: Data was obtained from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015, a nationally representative survey of 13,551 adults aged 45 years and above in China. Results: Depressive symptoms were positively associated with a greater likelihood of outpatient and inpatient health services utilization. This association was consistent across rural and urban settings, indicating the robustness of such findings across geographic areas. Conclusions: Findings indicate that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with both in-patient and out-patient health service utilization among Chinese adults. Screening for depressive symptoms needs to be incorporated in these care settings in China.