Couple’s linked occupation trajectory and women’s depressive symptoms in later life: A Multichannel Sequence Analysis from China

Objectives While the impact of occupational trajectories on mental health disparities is well-established, the couple-based perspective of linked occupational trajectories remains underexplored. This study investigates the linked occupational trajectories of Chinese middle-aged and older couples and their association with women’s depressive symptoms in later life. Methods Using five waves and life history survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), this study analyzed a sample of 3,529 couples aged 50 and above. Multichannel sequence analysis with hierarchical clustering was applied to identify patterns of linked occupational histories. Results Ten distinct clusters of couples’ occupational trajectories were identified: homogeneous dual-earner families (72.1%), male-advantaged dual-earner families (24.9%), and single-earner families (3%). Women in higher-status homogeneous dual-earner families (e.g., dual SOE or dual government employment), as well as those in gender-asymmetric families where agricultural wives were partnered with SOE- or government-employed husbands, had lower risks of depressive symptoms than women in dual agricultural families. No detectable mental health disadvantage was observed among women in single male-earner families. Discussion Later-life mental health disparities are shaped not only by women’s individual occupational trajectories but also by the within-couple occupational asymmetries formed under China’s evolving labor market structures. Policies that acknowledge and address unequal access to stable, higher-status employment may be particularly effective in promoting women’s mental well-being in later life.