Research On The Status And Influencing Factors Of Social Integration And Mental Health Of Urban Older Migrants In The Pearl River Delta Region

ObjectivesUnder the background of urbanization and aging,with the vision of promoting social integration and mental health of the older migrants,this study constructed a social integration index system for older migrants by studying the theory of social integration combined with the characteristics of older adults.A survey was conducted with urban older migrants in the Pearl River Delta(PRD)region,to explore and analyze the status and influencing factors of social integration and mental health of urban older migrants in the PRD region,and to verify the correlation between social integration and mental health,and to propose policy recommendations to improve the level of social integration and mental health of older migrants.Methods1.Literature research method:Using literature databases,search for the main keywords such as "older migrants","mobile elderly","social integration","social inclusion" and "mental health" to review relevant research results and provide a theoretical and empirical basis for this study.2.Delphi method:Based on literature research,candidate evaluation indexes were determined,and expert consultation questionnaires were made.From January to May 2021,18 experts in relevant research fields were invited to conduct two rounds of expert consultation to build a social integration index system for older migrants.3.Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP):According to the importance scores of the indicators in the second round of expert consultation,calculate the importance mean of the indicators at all levels,use the difference comparison method of the importance mean and the Satty scaling method to construct a judgment matrix,and calculate the weight vector in the yaahp 10.0 software.Consistency test is carried out to determine the weights of indicators at all levels in the social integration indicator system for older migrants.4.Questionnaire method:Based on the social integration index system of older migrants,the "Questionnaire on Social Integration and Health Status of the Older Migrants in the Pearl River Delta Region" was designed.From July to December 2021,samples were drawn using convenience sampling,and the older migrants in Guangzhou,Shenzhen and Jiangmen were selected for the face-to-face survey.5.Statistical analysis:Using correlation analysis,variance analysis,regression analysis,factor analysis and other methods to describe the basic situation of the surveyed subjects,and analyze the social integration and mental health data of older migrants.Results1.Through literature review,this study preliminarily determined that the social integration index system of older migrants includes 4 first-level indicators,10 secondlevel indicators and 51 third-level indicators.18 scholars were selected for two rounds of expert consultation.Finally,a social integration index system for older migrants was established,including 4 first-level indicators of economic integration,social support,cultural integration,and psychological identity,11 second-level indicators of economic conditions,social security,basic public services,community participation,social network,family support,language communication,life adaptation,identity,life satisfaction,social acceptance,and 35 third-level indicators.Through AHP analysis,the weights of indicators at all levels were determined,among which the weights of indicators of economic integration,social support,cultural integration,and psychological identity were 0.1906,0.4182,0.1205,and 0.2705,respectively.2.The social integration level was measured using the Social Integration Questionnaire for Older Migrant,which had good reliability and validity with Cronbach’α coefficient was 0.845,KMO value of 0.778,and a Bartlett spherical testχ2=8077.272(P<0.001).452 urban older migrants had an average social integration score of 59.20±11.35,and the average scores of the four first-level indicators of economic integration,social support,cultural integration,and psychological identity were 41.25±15.63,57.48± 15.01,64.84± 17.01,and 65.64± 15.35,respectively.The linear regression results showed that the social integration of older migrants was affected by variables such as age,education level,marital status,hukou,pension insurance,type of outflow area,purpose of migration,residence time in the inflow area,and self-perception of social integration.3.The Kessler 10 scale was used to measure the mental health of urban older migrants,which had good reliability and validity with Cronbach’ α=0.906,KMO value was 0.928,and the Bartlett spherical test χ2=2520.486(P<0.001).The average score of Kessler10 scale was 15.21 ±5.54,and 14.6%of older migrants had poor or worse mental health.Logistic regression results show that the mental health of older migrants was affected by gender,age,self-rated health,alcohol consumption,and purpose of migration.4.There was a positive correlation between social integration and mental health of older migrants in the Pearl River Delta region.Among the four first-level indicators of social integration,psychological identity had a positive correlation with mental health.ConclusionThe social integration index system of older migrants constructed in this study has high practicability and reliability,and can be used as a basis for measuring and evaluating the social integration level of older migrants.The results of the empirical study indicate that the overall social integration level of older migrants in the PRD region is good,but the mental health is not good.The social integration and mental health of older migrants are affected by multiple dimensions,which can be improved through self-improvement of older migrants,improvement of family situation,construction of community support system,and improvement of related policies and systems,in order to achieve positive aging and new urbanization construction.