Depression Levels of State Functionaries: Empirical Evidence From China

• Published in: Frontiers in psychiatry 2021-12, Vol.12, p.754182-754182
• Main Authors: He, Li, Wang, Kun, Zhang, Zixian, Wang, Jiangyin, Li, Tianyang, Wang, Yuting, Yang, Lixingzi, Wu, Yuanyang, Zhang, Shuo, Zhang, Siqing, Yang, Hualei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chinese state functionary; depression; mental health; occupation; occupational health; Psychiatry
• ISSN: 1664-0640; 1664-0640
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.754182

This study aimed to explore the depression levels of those serving as state functionaries in China. We used data from the 2016 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey and the ordinary least squares model for the regression analysis. The results found: i) The degree of depression of state functionaries was found to be lower than that of other workers; that is, the overall depression index of state functionaries was 1.010 points lower, and the result was significant at the degree of 1%; ii) state functionaries had a lower degree of depression than workers in all other occupation groups; iii) older state functionaries had lower depression than their younger counterparts; iv) the degree of depression of state functionaries in the provinces involved in China's three major urban agglomerations was higher than that of those in other provinces; and v) the degree of depression of female state functionaries was lower than that their male peers. Thus, there is an association between serving as a state functionary in China and depression. State functionaries have lower levels of depression than other working groups. These levels were generally lower but varied according to age, sex, and province.