Salinas-Rodríguez Aarón, Torres-Pereda Ma Del Pilar, Manrique-Espinoza Betty, Moreno-Tamayo Karla, Téllez-Rojo Solís Martha María
Center for Evaluation Research and Surveys, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
PLoS One. 2014 Nov 19;9(11):e113085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113085. eCollection 2014.
In 2007, a non-contributory pension program was launched in rural areas of Mexico. The program consisted in a non-conditional cash transfer of US$40 monthly to all older adults (OA) aged 70 and over. We evaluate the effect of the program on mental well-being of its beneficiaries.
Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. For the quantitative component, we used the selection criteria established by the program (age and locality size) to form the Intervention (OA aged 70-74 residing in rural localities, <2500 inhabitants) and Control groups (OA aged 70-74, in localities with 2501-2700 inhabitants). Baseline data collection was conducted in 2007 where 5,465 OA were interviewed. The follow-up survey was conducted in 2008, and it was possible to interview 5,270 OA, with a response rate of 96%. A difference-in-difference linear probability model with individual fixed effect was used to estimate the impact of the program on mental well-being indicators. In 2009 a qualitative component was designed to explore possible causal pathways of such effect.
After a year of exposure, the program had a significant effect on reduction of depressive symptoms (β = -0.06, CI95% -0.12; -0.01) and an increase in empowerment indicators: OA participated in important household decisions (β = 0.09, CI95% 0.03;0.15); and OA participated in household decisions pertaining to expenses (β = 0.11, CI95% 0.05;0.18). Qualitative analysis found a strong trend showing a reduction of sadness, and feeling of increasing empowerment.
These results suggest that a non-conditional transfer in older ages have an impact beyond the economic sphere, impacting even the mental well-being. This effect could be explained because the pension produces feelings of safety and welfare. It is recommendable that governments should invest efforts towards universalizing the non-contributory pension programs in order to ensure a basic income for the elderly.
2007年，墨西哥农村地区启动了一项非缴费型养老金计划。该计划包括每月向所有70岁及以上的老年人无条件现金转移支付40美元。我们评估了该计划对其受益人的心理健康的影响。
采用了定量和定性方法。对于定量部分，我们使用该计划设定的选择标准（年龄和地区规模）来形成干预组（居住在农村地区、居民人数<2500人的70 - 74岁老年人）和对照组（70 - 74岁、居民人数在2501 - 2700人的地区的老年人）。2007年进行了基线数据收集，对5465名老年人进行了访谈。2008年进行了随访调查，成功访谈了5270名老年人，回复率为96%。使用具有个体固定效应的差分线性概率模型来估计该计划对心理健康指标的影响。2009年设计了一个定性部分，以探索这种影响可能的因果途径。
经过一年的参与，该计划对减轻抑郁症状有显著效果（β = -0.06，95%置信区间 -0.12；-0.01），并提高了赋权指标：老年人参与重要家庭决策（β = 0.09，95%置信区间0.03；0.15）；老年人参与与支出相关的家庭决策（β = 0.11，95%置信区间0.05；0.18）。定性分析发现了一个强烈的趋势，即悲伤情绪减少，赋权感增强。
这些结果表明，老年时期的无条件转移支付产生的影响超出了经济领域，甚至影响到心理健康。这种影响可以解释为养老金带来了安全感和幸福感。建议政府努力使非缴费型养老金计划普及化，以确保老年人的基本收入。
