ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2026
Mental health under gender imbalance: evidence from bachelors in urban China.
Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundGender imbalance in marriage markets places severe pressure on bachelors. Although prior studies link skewed sex ratios to health outcomes, causal evidence on mental health in urban contexts remains limited. This study examines how local sex ratios influence mental health outcomes among bachelors in urban China.
methodsUsing data from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we analyze single men aged 16-60 years living in urban areas. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analyses employ two-way fixed-effects models, with Heckman selection correction and instrumental variable methods. Subgroup analyses assess heterogeneity by age, wealth, and education, while mechanism analyses explore underlying pathways.
resultsHigher local sex ratios worsen bachelors' mental health and exacerbate health disparities. A 0.1-point increase in the sex ratio, equivalent to 10 additional men per 100 women, raises CES-D scores by 3 percentage points and increases the probability of depression by 0.4 percentage points. The effects are strongest among older men and those with lower wealth or education. Mechanism analyses identify delayed marriage and declining socioeconomic status resulting from mating pressure as the primary channels.
conclusionsGender imbalances in marriage markets have significant and unequal mental health consequences for urban bachelors. Addressing skewed sex ratios and socioeconomic vulnerabilities is essential to reduce these disparities.
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