Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data

Background: Government transfer payments play a crucial role in redistributing wealth and alleviating relative poverty. However, the mental health effects of government transfers remain to be explored. This study aims to explore the internal mechanisms of the mental health effects of government tran...

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Main Authors: Jing Zeng, Yunting Chen, Yafeng Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Acta Psychologica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004530
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author Jing Zeng
Yunting Chen
Yafeng Li
author_facet Jing Zeng
Yunting Chen
Yafeng Li
author_sort Jing Zeng
collection DOAJ
description Background: Government transfer payments play a crucial role in redistributing wealth and alleviating relative poverty. However, the mental health effects of government transfers remain to be explored. This study aims to explore the internal mechanisms of the mental health effects of government transfer payments by examining individuals' subjective evaluations and attitudes. Methods: Based on panel data from the 2016 and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) urban sample composition (N = 6645), the PSM-DID model was used to investigate the mental health effects of government transfer payments. Based on the calculation of the PSM-DID model, this study examined the effects of social security satisfaction and subjective social status on the mental health effects of government transfer payments through the mediation model and moderation model. Results: The study found that, overall, receiving government transfer payments can significantly reduce the level of individual depression. In examining the mechanism linking government transfer payments and mental health, it was discovered that social security satisfaction partially mediates this relationship. Additionally, subjective social status was identified as a negative moderating factor in this relationship, meaning that the alleviating effect of government transfer payments on depression diminishes as subjective social status increases. Conclusions: Therefore, in future policy optimization, firstly, the size and scope of urban government transfer payments should be expanded to directly improve the living standards of recipients. Secondly, social security programs should be strengthened. Thirdly, implementing the targeted interventions to address disparities in subjective social status should be considered.
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spelling doaj-art-6cbd53a3a1f04147979bff6a2df9d7d22024-12-14T06:28:18ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182024-11-01251104575Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel dataJing Zeng0Yunting Chen1Yafeng Li2School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaCorresponding author at: No.18, Jinfeng Road, Ningtang Community, Tangjiawan Town, High-tech Zone, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China.; School of Government, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaBackground: Government transfer payments play a crucial role in redistributing wealth and alleviating relative poverty. However, the mental health effects of government transfers remain to be explored. This study aims to explore the internal mechanisms of the mental health effects of government transfer payments by examining individuals' subjective evaluations and attitudes. Methods: Based on panel data from the 2016 and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) urban sample composition (N = 6645), the PSM-DID model was used to investigate the mental health effects of government transfer payments. Based on the calculation of the PSM-DID model, this study examined the effects of social security satisfaction and subjective social status on the mental health effects of government transfer payments through the mediation model and moderation model. Results: The study found that, overall, receiving government transfer payments can significantly reduce the level of individual depression. In examining the mechanism linking government transfer payments and mental health, it was discovered that social security satisfaction partially mediates this relationship. Additionally, subjective social status was identified as a negative moderating factor in this relationship, meaning that the alleviating effect of government transfer payments on depression diminishes as subjective social status increases. Conclusions: Therefore, in future policy optimization, firstly, the size and scope of urban government transfer payments should be expanded to directly improve the living standards of recipients. Secondly, social security programs should be strengthened. Thirdly, implementing the targeted interventions to address disparities in subjective social status should be considered.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004530Government transfer paymentsMental healthPSM-DIDSubjective well-being
spellingShingle Jing Zeng
Yunting Chen
Yafeng Li
Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
Acta Psychologica
Government transfer payments
Mental health
PSM-DID
Subjective well-being
title Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
title_full Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
title_fullStr Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
title_full_unstemmed Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
title_short Mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban China—An empirical study based on CFPS panel data
title_sort mental health effects of government transfer payments in urban china an empirical study based on cfps panel data
topic Government transfer payments
Mental health
PSM-DID
Subjective well-being
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824004530
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AT yuntingchen mentalhealtheffectsofgovernmenttransferpaymentsinurbanchinaanempiricalstudybasedoncfpspaneldata
AT yafengli mentalhealtheffectsofgovernmenttransferpaymentsinurbanchinaanempiricalstudybasedoncfpspaneldata