Community Social Capital, Family Support, Confucian Pro-Setback Coping and Geriatric Depression: Evidence from China

Abstract

It is important to explore the factors influencing geriatric depression in the context of aging. This research aimed to investigate the association between community social capital and depressive symptoms among the urban elderly in China, and the mediating role of family support and Confucian pro-setback coping in the impact of community social capital on geriatric depression. Data were collected via a community survey targeting 300 adults aged 60 and above living in urban communities in Chengdu, China, in 2021. SPSS and a structural equation model were used for the analysis of data and test the proposed hypothesis. The findings showed that civic participation and social cohesion were significantly related to geriatric depression. Family support and Confucian pro-setback coping played a mediating role or chain mediating role in the associations between civic participation and geriatric depression. This research has offered support for both direct and indirect effects of community social capital on geriatric depression. Promoting community-level civic participation and social cohesion, improving family support and Confucian pro-setback coping are seen to contribute positively to the management and intervention on geriatric depression.