Mei Peng Ying, You Jialu, Jun Wei Wen
Sociology Department, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
Institution of Finance and Economics Department, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China.
Front Public Health. 2025 May 22;13:1575893. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1575893. eCollection 2025.
Health status is a key determinant of life outcomes, including economic performance, educational attainment, and social integration. However, its impact on migration preferences remains underexplored. This study investigates whether health status significantly influences migration decisions in China, with a particular focus on the role of social capital and class mobility expectations.
This study utilizes data from the China Labor Dynamics Survey (CLDS) collected between 2012 and 2018. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between self-reported health, occupational quality, social capital, and migration decisions. The mediating role of social networks and the moderating effect of class mobility expectations were also examined.
The analysis reveals that individuals with better health are more likely to migrate, especially in pursuit of improved employment opportunities in urban areas. Social networks mediate the relationship between health and migration by providing resources and support that facilitate mobility. Furthermore, class mobility expectations moderate this relationship: healthier individuals with positive prospects tend to stay in their current location, while those who have experienced upward mobility are more likely to migrate.
This study highlights the significant role of health status in migration decisions and emphasizes the importance of social networks and class mobility expectations. Policies aimed at improving health and strengthening social support systems could enhance social equity and mobility, particularly in developing countries.
健康状况是生活成果的关键决定因素，包括经济表现、教育程度和社会融合。然而，其对移民偏好的影响仍未得到充分探索。本研究调查健康状况是否会显著影响中国的移民决策，特别关注社会资本和阶层流动预期的作用。
本研究使用了2012年至2018年期间收集的中国劳动力动态调查（CLDS）数据。进行了多元回归分析，以评估自我报告的健康状况、职业质量、社会资本与移民决策之间的关系。还考察了社会网络的中介作用和阶层流动预期的调节作用。
分析表明，健康状况较好的个体更有可能迁移，尤其是为了在城市地区寻求更好的就业机会。社会网络通过提供促进流动的资源和支持来调解健康与移民之间的关系。此外，阶层流动预期调节了这种关系：前景乐观的健康个体倾向于留在当前所在地，而经历过向上流动的个体更有可能迁移。
本研究强调了健康状况在移民决策中的重要作用，并强调了社会网络和阶层流动预期的重要性。旨在改善健康状况和加强社会支持系统的政策可以提高社会公平性和流动性，特别是在发展中国家。
