Title:
REGIONAL INEQUALITY AND DEPRESSION IN CHINA: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUST

Authors:
Fenglin Wang, Ruohan Shao, Dongjing Chen and Wuxianzhi Liu, China

Abstract:
In recent decades, an individual’s subject well-being has raised a substantial degree of concerns in the global society. In China, the population suffering from mental problems such as depression is increasing. It has been argued by many research that the income inequality is related with the presence of depression and depressive symptoms. However, there are relatively fewer studies focusing on the associations between income inequality and depression in China than in many other societies. The present research explores the relationship between income inequality and depression with a particular focus on the mediating effect of institutional trust. We used the data from the CGSS 2021 and National Beaure of Statistics. Cronbach’s Alpha and Generalized Structural Equation Modeling was used for the analysis. We find that income inequality is positively associated with the degree of depression (indicating a negative effect on subjective wellbeing). Trust in institutions has a negative mediating effect on this association.