Education and psychological distress among older Chinese

The goal of this research is to see if more highly educated older Chinese have lower levels of distress than do their poorly educated counterparts and whether engaging in cognitively stimulating activities such as reading and playing mahjong explains the association.

Using the Chinese Healthy Longevity Survey, the authors find a significant negative association between education and psychological distress. Much of the association is mediated by activities, but not all in the ways expected. Reading, playing mahjong, and watching television all negatively correlate with distress.

Better-educated older Chinese have lower levels of distress than do their less-well-educated counterparts in part because they engage in cognitively stimulating activities, have better economic circumstances, and engage in more physical activity.