The association of intergenerational care on Chinese elderly adults’ mental health from the perspective of social roles: the moderating effect of care intensity

Key Points

• Intergenerational care positively affects the mental health of elderly adults, particularly with higher care intensity.
• Mental health improvements correlate significantly with robust social roles involved in the care process.
• Observational analysis highlights the relationship between care intensity and its moderating effects on mental health outcomes.
• Findings underscore the need for integrating intergenerational care practices to enhance elderly mental health.