Objective  To analyze mental health status among the residents with different marital status in Liaoning province.

  Methods  The data for 2 905 adult residents in Liaoning province were extracted from the dataset of China Family Panel Study (CFPS) conducted in 2010 using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Mental health status and its correlation with marital condition among the residents were analyzed.

  Results  Of the residents surveyed, 2.99% were devoiced and the ratio was higher than that of the national average. The mental health score differed significantly by gender, residential area, and age among the residents with different marital status. For the residents, the mental health score was higher among the males (27.05 ± 3.85) than among the females (26.34 ± 4.46), lower among the divorced (25.29 ± 5.15) or the widowed (25.39 ± 5.72) than among those with other marital status, and higher among the urban inhabitants (27.10 ± 4.08) than among rural inhabitants (26.41 ± 4.25).

  Conclusion  Marriage stability is not good and high divorce rate needs to be concerned among the residents in Liaoning province. Bad marriage experience plays a negative role on mental health; among the residents aged 40 years and above, the married residents with a spouse have a better mental health than those without a spouse.