Deprivation and Aspiration Strains as Function of Mental Health Among Chinese Adults: Study of a National Sample

Background: China is in a period of rapid transformation of economic and social development. The imbalance in the distribution of social benefits, focusing on adjustment and reorganization, has led to an increase in relative deprivation. Studies have shown that relative deprivation leads to a decline in personal mental health. Methods: We used the national data in the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) collected in 2015 (N = 10,702; male 46.89%) to estimate the relationship between deprivation and aspiration strains and mental health. Covariates included age, gender, education level, and marital status. Results: The results show the mechanism of how relative social and economic status affects the mental health of residents through deprivation strains and aspiration strains. It was found that deprivation strains and aspiration strains are both negatively correlated with mental health, even when controlling for the confounding variables. Conclusion: Mental health can be improved, and suicide rates may be decreased by vigorously developing the economy, promoting social equity and justice, and strengthening psychological counseling for the general population.