The Relationship between Air Pollution and Depression in China: Is Neighbourhood Social Capital Protective?

Ruoyu Wang, Desheng Xue, Ye Liu, Penghua Liu and Hongsheng Chen
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Ruoyu Wang: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
Desheng Xue: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
Ye Liu: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
Penghua Liu: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, China
Hongsheng Chen: School of Architecture, Southeast University, Si-Pai-Lou Road No. 2, Nanjing 210096, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: There is increasing evidence from the developed world that air pollution is significantly related to residents’ depressive symptoms; however, the existence of such a relationship in developing countries such as China is still unclear. Furthermore, although neighbourhood social capital is beneficial for health, whether it is a protective factor in the relationship between health and environment pollution remains unclear. Consequently, we examined the effects of cities’ PM 2.5 concentrations on residents’ depressive symptoms and the moderating effects of neighbourhood social capital, using data from the 2016 wave of China Labourforce Dynamics Survey and the real-time remote inquiry website of Airborne Fine Particulate Matter and Air Quality Index. Results showed that PM 2.5 concentrations and neighbourhood social capital may increase and decrease respondents’ depressive symptoms, respectively. Notably, neighbourhood social capital decreased the negative effect of PM 2.5 concentrations on respondents’ depressive symptoms. These analyses contributed to the understanding of the effect of air pollution on mental health in China and confirmed that neighbourhood social capital were protective factors in the relationship between health and environment hazards.

Keywords: PM 2.5 concentrations; depressive symptoms; neighbourhood social capital; moderate effect; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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