Psychosocial predictors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among self-initiated older Chinese migrants: evidence from Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

Introduction This cross-sectional study examined psychosocial factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among self-initiated older Chinese migrants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Methods A total of 204 participants aged 60 years or older, who had migrated to Thailand at the age of 60 or later and had lived in Thailand for more than six months, completed structured questionnaires between December 2024 and February 2025. Measures included depressive and anxiety symptoms, acculturative stress, perceived social support, sense of mastery, and loneliness. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29.9%, while 53.4% reported anxiety symptoms. Bivariate analyses indicated that greater acculturative stress and loneliness and lower perceived social support and mastery were associated with greater depressive and anxiety symptoms. In the fully adjusted regression models, greater acculturative stress, lower perceived social support, and lower mastery were associated with greater depressive symptoms, whereas greater acculturative stress and loneliness and lower perceived social support were associated with greater anxiety symptoms. Parsimonious hierarchical sensitivity analyses broadly supported these findings, although the unique association between loneliness and depressive symptoms was marginal, and the association between mastery and anxiety varied by model specification. Discussion These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in the mental health of older migrants. Interventions should address acculturative stress and loneliness while strengthening perceived control and social connectedness. Longitudinal research should examine how these factors and institutional conditions interact over time to shape mental health trajectories in later life.