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Background <p>Gender imbalance in marriage markets places severe pressure on bachelors. Although prior studies link skewed sex ratios to health outcomes, causal evidence on mental health in urban contexts remains limited. This study examines how local sex ratios influence mental health outcomes among bachelors in urban China.</p> Methods <p>Using data from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we analyze single men aged 16–60&#xa0;years living in urban areas. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analyses employ two-way fixed-effects models, with Heckman selection correction and instrumental variable methods. Subgroup analyses assess heterogeneity by age, wealth, and education, while mechanism analyses explore underlying pathways.</p> Results <p>Higher local sex ratios worsen bachelors’ mental health and exacerbate health disparities. A 0.1-point increase in the sex ratio, equivalent to 10 additional men per 100 women, raises CES-D scores by 3 percentage points and increases the probability of depression by 0.4 percentage points. The effects are strongest among older men and those with lower wealth or education. Mechanism analyses identify delayed marriage and declining socioeconomic status resulting from mating pressure as the primary channels.</p> Conclusions <p>Gender imbalances in marriage markets have significant and unequal mental health consequences for urban bachelors. Addressing skewed sex ratios and socioeconomic vulnerabilities is essential to reduce these disparities.</p>

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Mental health under gender imbalance: evidence from bachelors in urban China

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月3日

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  • Zongyao Yang,
  • Ying Zhou,
  • Yongyi Fu

摘要

Background

Gender imbalance in marriage markets places severe pressure on bachelors. Although prior studies link skewed sex ratios to health outcomes, causal evidence on mental health in urban contexts remains limited. This study examines how local sex ratios influence mental health outcomes among bachelors in urban China.

Methods

Using data from the 2012, 2016, and 2018 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we analyze single men aged 16–60 years living in urban areas. Depressive symptoms are measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analyses employ two-way fixed-effects models, with Heckman selection correction and instrumental variable methods. Subgroup analyses assess heterogeneity by age, wealth, and education, while mechanism analyses explore underlying pathways.

Results

Higher local sex ratios worsen bachelors’ mental health and exacerbate health disparities. A 0.1-point increase in the sex ratio, equivalent to 10 additional men per 100 women, raises CES-D scores by 3 percentage points and increases the probability of depression by 0.4 percentage points. The effects are strongest among older men and those with lower wealth or education. Mechanism analyses identify delayed marriage and declining socioeconomic status resulting from mating pressure as the primary channels.

Conclusions

Gender imbalances in marriage markets have significant and unequal mental health consequences for urban bachelors. Addressing skewed sex ratios and socioeconomic vulnerabilities is essential to reduce these disparities.