The Impact of Mental Health Status on Health Consumption of the Elderly in China.

Based on the national baseline survey data of the CHARLS2015, the comprehensive evaluation index of depression degree of the elderly in China is calculated using a principal component analysis method. The Tobit model is used to investigate the influence of mental health status with depression degree as a proxy variable on the health consumption of the elderly in China. The results show that the overall effect and the phased effect of depression on the health consumption of the elderly are positive.