A psychophysical measurement on subjective well-being and air pollution

Yuan Li, Dabo Guan (), Yanni Yu (), Stephen Westland, Daoping Wang, Jing Meng, Xuejun Wang, Kebin He and Shu Tao
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Yuan Li: Shandong University
Dabo Guan: Tsinghua University
Yanni Yu: Shandong University
Stephen Westland: University of Leeds
Daoping Wang: Shanghai University of Finance and Economics
Jing Meng: University College London
Xuejun Wang: Peking University
Kebin He: Tsinghua University
Shu Tao: Peking University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Although the physical effects of air pollution on humans are well documented, there may be even greater impacts on the emotional state and health. Surveys have traditionally been used to explore the impact of air pollution on people’s subjective well-being (SWB). However, the survey techniques usually take long periods to properly match the air pollution characteristics from monitoring stations to each respondent’s SWB at both disaggregated spatial and temporal levels. Here, we used air pollution data to simulate fixed-scene images and psychophysical process to examine the impact from only air pollution on SWB. Findings suggest that under the atmospheric conditions in Beijing, negative emotions occur when PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm) increases to approximately 150 AQI (air quality index). The British observers have a stronger negative response under severe air pollution compared with Chinese observers. People from different social groups appear to have different sensitivities to SWB when air quality index exceeds approximately 200 AQI.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13459-w

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