Objective: To explore the relationship between family intergenerational contact, depressive symptoms and self-rated health status in the elderly, so as to provide insights into promoting health of the elderly and actively coping with population aging. Methods: Demographic information, intergenerational contact frequency, self-rated health status and depressive symptoms in the elderly at ages of 65 years and older were collected through the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Structural equation model was established to analyze the effects of intergenerational contact on self-rated health and the mediating role of depressive symptoms between family intergenerational contact and self-rated health in the elderly. Results: Totally 15 497 elderly participants were enrolled, with 6 727 males (43.41%) and 8 770 females (56.59%), and there 12 583 individuals lived with family members (81.19%). The median age was 85.00 (interquartile range, 16.00) years. The scores of self-rated health and depressive symptoms were (3.39±0.87) and (2.22±0.56), respectively. The results of structural equation model analysis showed that after adjusting for age, gender and residence, frequent intergenerational contact had a direct positive effect on self-rated health (effect size=0.038, P<0.001), and could improve the depressive symptoms (effect size=0.089, P<0.001) in the elderly. In addition, depressive symptoms had a negative effect on self-rated health in the elderly (effect size=-0.422, P<0.001). Conclusions Frequent intergenerational contact can improve the self-rated health status in the elderly, and indirectly improve the self-rated health level by alleviating depressive symptoms.