How Does Urban Sprawl Affect Public Health? Evidence from Panel Survey Data in Urbanizing China

Bibliographic Data

ID15510835
AuthorsYan Yan (0000-0001-5357-0187, Capital University of Economics and Business), Hui Liu (0000-0001-5519-148X, Central University of Finance and Economics, corresponding author), Canfei He (0000-0001-5170-3599, Peking University)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue19
Pages10181-10181
Publication date2021-09-28
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph181910181
PMID34639483
OpenAlexW3204082595
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited66

This study takes urbanizing China as the research object, employs data from three follow-up surveys conducted by the Harmonized China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, and examines the effects of urban sprawl on public health from physical and mental health perspectives. Although urban sprawl does not necessarily increase the risk of each specific type of disease or psychological feeling, it has a significant impact on overall physical and mental health. Further analysis reveals significant heterogeneity in the effects of urban sprawl on the physical and mental health of different groups. Specifically, urban sprawl is detrimental to the physical health of males and females, but only has negative impact on the mental health of females. Younger groups are more vulnerable to physical and mental health damage from urban sprawl relative to middle-aged and older groups. In addition, urban sprawl has a significant negative impact on the health of the low-education group but a very limited impact on the health of the high-education counterpart. From an income perspective, however, the preference for suburban housing among middle- and high-income groups makes their health more vulnerable to the negative effects of urban sprawl than low-income groups living in urban centers

China · Environmental health · Geography · Mental health · Psychiatry · Public health · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Urban planning · Urban sprawl · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychology · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies · Gerontology

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