Childlessness and Depressive Symptoms Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: Examining the Role of Partnership Trajectories.

Objective: Although previous studies have recognized the potential connection between childlessness and increased mental health risks in later life, the diverse pathways leading to childlessness remain unclear. This study thus sought to explore the association between patterns of partnership trajectories and depressive symptoms among childless middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods: Utilizing sequence analysis, this research identified distinct partnership trajectory patterns among participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). It then examined the associations between these trajectory patterns and depressive symptoms over a 9-year follow-up period.

Results: Our analysis uncovered 5 distinct partnership trajectories: long-term partnership (64.2%), never partnered (20.1%), re-partnered (6%), divorce/separation (3.6%), and widowhood (9.3%). Childless individuals who never partnered exhibited a higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to those with children.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that it is the dynamic interplay between childlessness and partnership trajectories, rather than childlessness alone, that significantly influences depressive symptoms in later life. Adopting a life course perspective provides valuable insights into understanding the mental health disparities among the heterogeneous childless population.