Perception matters: How air pollution influences life satisfaction in China

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31927
• Publication Date: 2024-05-24T23:45:30Z
• Authors: Xinghua Zhao; Yumei Cao; Zheng Cheng
• Keywords: Multi-level linear regression; Social sciences (General); H1-99; Q1-390; 03 medical and health sciences; Air pollutants emissions; Science (General); 0302 clinical medicine; Life satisfaction; Perceived air pollution; Research Article

Academic studies on environmental pollution have convincingly acknowledged the salient relevance of ambient pollutant emissions individual life satisfaction. However, an understanding how different dimensions air influence public self-assessment their living condition is required. This research investigates whether objective and subjective evaluation The findings were based data from China Environment Yearbook Social Survey in 2019. multi-level linear regression model found that pollutants emissions, including particulate matter (PM) sulfur dioxide (SO2), failed to explain variations satisfaction because lag effect perception. A significant nexus between perceived was observed at a significance level 0.01. Specially, as by increased one-point, decreased 0.22 scale 1-10, average. Heterogeneous analysis income further suggested negative PM only occurred high-income group. robust after various methodological analyses. study has theoretical implications for effects perception provides guidance government can manage relationship governance