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This is a Cross-Sectional Study study.

September 12, 2025

The Associations Between Pension Receipt and Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Chain Mediation Model Involving Subjective Well-Being and IADL

GXGuo XiujuanCapital University of Economics and Business

Key Points

Pension receipt positively affects mental health through subjective well-being and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), enhancing emotional incentives.
The single mediating effect of subjective well-being is notable, accounting for 29.17% of the total effect between pension and mental health outcomes.
Findings derived from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) indicate differences in mediation effects across various social classes and family sizes.
There is a stronger negative impact of pension on mental health among middle and upper class elderly and those from smaller families.

Abstract

Abstract Background In the context of the growing aging population and mental health issues among the elderly in China, it is of great practical significance to explore the relationship between pensions and residents' mental health. Although pensions are regarded as an important mechanism for the economic security of the elderly, their pathway analysis on mental health has not been systematically studied. It is proposed that pension may indirectly affect the mental health of the elderly by improving subjective well-being and maintaining instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Methods This paper uses the latest data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2022 to explore the relationship between pension and residents' mental health. Additionally, the mediating roles of subjective well-being and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was further explored. Results 1) Subjective well-being and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) play a mediating role in the relationship between pension and mental health. The single mediating effect of subjective well-being accounts for 29.17% of the total effect, while the chain mediating path accounts for 0.59%. 2) There are differences in the chain mediation across various social classes and family sizes. The negative relationship between pension and mental health is more pronounced in the middle and upper classes and smaller families. Conclusions Pensions not only provide economic security but also significantly support residents' mental health through emotional incentives and maintaining instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Policymakers should concentrate on the psychological importance of pensions in enhancing subjective well-being and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). They should especially consider intervention strategies for low-income and large families of elderly individuals to create a more inclusive social security system.

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