Xiong Zhifei, He Ju, Guo Chenchen, Zhang Wenzhong
Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijng, China.
College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jun 11;13:1589168. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1589168. eCollection 2025.
This study investigates the relationship between air pollution perceptions and relocation intentions among older adult populations in China. It aims to understand how dissatisfaction with air quality influences the willingness of older adult individuals to relocate from heavily polluted urban areas, while also examining the moderating effects of urban and individual characteristics.
Utilizing data from official, confidential surveys from Urban Health Check Program in China in 2023, we employed a two-stage analytical framework to analyze the dual mechanisms through which air pollution impacts migration decisions: direct environmental push factors and perception-mediated psychological pathways. Regression analysis was conducted to quantify the mediation effects of urban characteristics and individual attributes on health risk perceptions among older adults.
The findings indicate that air quality dissatisfaction significantly predicts the willingness to relocate, especially in cities with high concentrations of pollutants like PM, NO, SO, and CO. Air quality satisfaction was identified as a critical mediator in the relationship between pollutant levels and relocation intentions. Additionally, socio-economic disparities and intergenerational dynamics were found to complicate relocation decisions, with some older adult individuals developing attenuated pollution risk perceptions due to limited health literacy and adaptive resources.
This study underscores the vital role of older adult individuals' perceptions in shaping their responses to air pollution and relocation intentions. It highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions that enhance health literacy, address environmental inequalities, and consider intergenerational dynamics in policy-making. Strategies such as health education programs, subsidized relocation initiatives, and supportive policies for caregivers are essential for fostering healthier living environments and improving the overall wellbeing of older adults amid ongoing environmental challenges.
本研究调查了中国老年人群体中空气污染认知与搬迁意愿之间的关系。旨在了解对空气质量的不满如何影响老年个体从污染严重的城市地区搬迁的意愿，同时考察城市和个体特征的调节作用。
利用2023年中国城市健康检查项目官方保密调查的数据，我们采用两阶段分析框架来分析空气污染影响迁移决策的双重机制：直接的环境推动因素和认知介导的心理途径。进行回归分析以量化城市特征和个体属性对老年人健康风险认知的中介作用。
研究结果表明，对空气质量的不满显著预测了搬迁意愿，尤其是在PM、NO、SO和CO等污染物浓度高的城市。空气质量满意度被确定为污染物水平与搬迁意愿之间关系的关键中介因素。此外，社会经济差距和代际动态使搬迁决策变得复杂，一些老年个体由于健康素养和适应资源有限，对污染风险的认知有所减弱。
本研究强调了老年个体的认知在塑造他们对空气污染的反应和搬迁意愿方面的重要作用。它突出了有针对性干预措施的迫切需求，这些措施应提高健康素养？解决环境不平等问题，并在决策中考虑代际动态。诸如健康教育项目、补贴搬迁倡议以及对照顾者的支持政策等策略对于在持续的环境挑战中营造更健康的生活环境和改善老年人的整体福祉至关重要。 （注：原文中“address environmental inequalities”这里的“address”翻译为“解决”，但中文译文里漏了这个词的翻译，完整准确译文应补充“解决”，即“它突出了有针对性干预措施的迫切需求，这些措施应提高健康素养、解决环境不平等问题，并在决策中考虑代际动态。” ）
