ArticlePloS one2025
Social support mediates the relationship between depression and subjective well-being in elderly patients with chronic diseases: Evidence from a survey in Rural Western China.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed.
- Comparative Trends in the Burden of Depressive Disorders in China and Globally, 1990-2021: Evidence From the Global Burden of Disease 2021.Alpha psychiatry · 2026Article
- Wisdom and Life Purpose as Predictors of Mental Well-Being Among Middle-Aged to Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR mental health · 2026Article
- Latent profile analysis of depressive symptoms and its associations with problematic social media use and demographic characteristics among Chinese college students.BMC psychology · 2026Article
- Predicting mild cognitive impairment among rural older adults in China: development and validation of a risk prediction model.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Active aging profiles mediate the effect of social support on subjective well-being among community-dwelling older adults: a latent profile mediation analysis.BMC geriatrics · 2026Article
- Perceived Social Support and Well-Being: Mediation and Buffering of the Stress-Depression Link in Rural Older Adults.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Chronic disease multimorbidity and mental health among older adults in China: The moderating roles of family and social support.PloS one · 2026Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of cognitive impairment among hospitalized older adults with depression: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Guangzhou, China.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Social media use and subjective well-being among older adults: chain mediation effects of future time perspective and social support.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Social support policy alternatives for older one-child parents in China: based on a decomposition and comparative analysis of subjective well-being.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Article
- Psychosocial Adaptation After Heart Transplantation: The Chain-Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem and Death Anxiety on Social Support and Quality of Life in China.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
11 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundThe aging population has led to a marked increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly, significantly impacting their physical and mental health, as well as their overall quality of life. In rural regions of Western China, these challenges are exacerbated by limited access to medical insurance, low living standards, and inadequate mental health services. Consequently, the physical and mental well-being of elderly individuals with chronic conditions in these areas warrants focused attention. This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between depression, social support, and subjective well-being, with particular emphasis on the mediating role of social support.
methodsThis cross-sectional study involved a survey of 2,156 elderly individuals aged 60 and above, all living with chronic diseases in the rural areas of Qiannan, Guizhou, China. Pearson correlation and hierarchical linear regression analyses were employed to explore the relationships between the variables. A structural equation model was then constructed using Amos 23.0, based on the identified correlations between depression, social support, and subjective well-being. The bootstrap estimation method was applied to assess the mediating effect of social support in the depression-subjective well-being relationship.
resultsThe analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between depression and subjective well-being, while social support showed a strong positive association with subjective well-being. Mediation analysis confirmed that social support significantly mediates the relationship between depression and subjective well-being, accounting for 10.23% of the total effect. Notably, the influence of subjective support on depression and subjective well-being was found to be more pronounced than that of objective support or social support utilization.
conclusionsThe findings highlight the necessity of strengthening the social support system for elderly individuals with chronic diseases in rural Western China, particularly by enhancing psychological and emotional support. This approach is crucial for mitigating depressive symptoms and improving subjective well-being in this population.
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