Objectives: The rising prevalence of depressive symptoms is a pressing global health concern. This study investigates the link between social trust and depressive symptoms, with particular focus on urban-rural disparities.

Methods: The data for this study was sourced from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) for the years 2018 and 2020, encompassing a total of 5,645 participants aged 60 and above. We employed Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to categorize individual patterns of social trust. Subsequently, multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to determine if there was an association between these identified social trust patterns and depressive symptoms. Additionally, we examined the potential interactive effects between urban-rural differences and patterns of social trust on depressive symptoms.

Results: The findings demonstrate a significant link between patterns of social trust and depressive symptoms, with individuals manifesting high social trust (HST) showing a lower propensity for depressive symptoms (Beta=-2.26, 95% CI=-2.62, -1.92). Furthermore, a marked association is apparent between social trust patterns and the changes in depressive symptoms. Additionally, in comparison to rural residents, urban dwellers (Beta=-0.67, 95% CI=-1.23, -0.11) demonstrate a more pronounced correlation between patterns of social trust and symptoms of depression, particularly within the HST group.

Limitation: The CES-D, being a self-reporting measure, may be prone to instances of overestimation or underestimation of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Our findings highlight a strong link between social trust patterns and depressive symptoms, particularly regarding their changes. Compared to rural residents, urbanites, notably within the HST group, show a lower risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. There is an urgent requirement to establish social trust-specific interventions to decrease susceptibility to depressive symptoms among the rural populace.

Wang Ting is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Health at the Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China. Her research focuses on health policy analysis, healthcare management, and public health interventions. She is dedicated to improving healthcare systems through evidence-based policy recommendations and interdisciplinary research.