# What makes reversal: examining the moderating effect of being a state functionary on occupational status and depression among middle-aged and older people in China

## TL;DR

Higher occupational status is generally linked to lower depression in older Chinese adults, but this relationship reverses for government workers, especially in educated and urban groups.

## Contribution

This study reveals that being a state functionary reverses the protective effect of high occupational status against depression in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

## Key findings

- Higher occupational status is negatively correlated with depression in middle-aged and older adults.
- Being a state functionary reverses the relationship, linking higher occupational status to more severe depression.
- The moderating effect of being a state functionary is significant in educated and urban subgroups.

## Abstract

This study measured occupational status from the perspectives of occupational socioeconomic status, employment relationship, and class level, aiming to examine the effect of occupational status on depression among middle-aged and elderly people in China and determine whether being a state functionary plays a moderating role.

Panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (n = 28 645) were used and the year fixed-effects model was adopted. The 2-way interaction terms “state functionary × occupational status (the International Socioeconomic Index of Occupational Status [ISEI], the Standard International Occupational Prestige Scale [SIOPS], and the Erikson and Goldthorpe class categories [EGP])” were added to examine whether being a state functionary could moderate the relationship between occupational status and depression.

Occupational status was negatively correlated with depression (ISEI: coefficient = −0.03; 95% CI, −0.04 to −0.02; SIOPS: coefficient = −0.01; 95% CI, −0.02 to −0.002; EGP: coefficient = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.15). The 2-way interaction terms “state functionary × occupational status (ISEI/SIOPS/EGP)” were significant among all middle-aged and older participants. The 2-way interaction terms were also significant in the educated and urban subgroups.

Higher occupational status is a protective factor against depression among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. However, being a state functionary can reverse the relationship between occupational status and depression. We found that the higher the occupational status of state functionaries, the more severe their depression. We also found a moderating effect of being a state functionary in the educated and urban subgroups.

Key points

1)The association between high occupational status and less severe depression among middle-aged and older adults was significant.2)Being a state functionary may result in a positive relationship between higher occupational status and greater depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.3)The moderating effect of state functionality was significant only in the educated and urban subgroups.

The association between high occupational status and less severe depression among middle-aged and older adults was significant.

Being a state functionary may result in a positive relationship between higher occupational status and greater depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults.

The moderating effect of state functionality was significant only in the educated and urban subgroups.