The current situation of mental health education and its influencing factors among the elderly migrant population in China: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Population mobility in China has increasingly included the middle-aged and elderly populations. Relatedly, the lack of mental health education among China's elderly migrant population is still an important but neglected problem. This study aims to understand the current situation of mental health education received by the elderly migrant population in China and to explore the related influencing factors. Methods This cross-sectional study included 5,729 elderly migrants who participated in the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey. The covariates included four components: demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, mobility factors, public health service utilization, and social integration factors. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test for single factors and a binary logistic regression model for multiple factors. Results A total of 1672 elderly migrants received mental health education, for an acceptance rate of 29.2%. Educational methods included promotional materials (paper, film, and television), bulletin boards/electronic displays, public health consultations, health-related lectures, individualized face-to-face consultations and community SMS/WeChat/websites, which had been accessed by 90.1%, 80.2%, 70.0%, 67.5%, 48.8%, and 39.4% of the sample, respectively. Regression analysis showed that the older migrant population who had an average monthly household income > 3000 CNY, self-rated their health as healthy, had chronic diseases, had heard of National Basic Public Health Services, had established health records, were willing to integrate into the local population, and were highly involved in the community were more likely to receive mental health education. Older migrants who were ≥ 70 years old, had an elementary school education or below, had difficulties in the local community, migrated ≥ 11 years prior, moved for their offspring, and moved across provinces were less likely to receive mental health education. Conclusions The elderly migrant population does not accept mental health education well, and the means of obtaining educational assistance are relatively limited. Mental health interventions should be tailored to the characteristics of the migrant elderly population to increase mental health literacy and meet their psychological needs.