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Internal Migration and Mental Health: An Examination of the Healthy Migration Phenomenon in China

Author

Listed:
  • Chao Ma

    (Southeast University
    Yale University)

  • Zhaopeng Qu

    (Nanjing University)

  • Zimeng Xu

    (Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

Using the 2008 and 2009 Rural–Urban Migration in China (RUMiC) survey data, two waves of a nationally representative survey dataset, this study examined the “healthy migrant phenomenon” with regard to mental health in China. The results show that migrants exhibited better mental health than urban residents did after controlling for variables of socioeconomic status in a regression analysis. The study confirms that the “healthy migrant phenomenon” does exist under the setting of internal rural to urban migration in China, and the socioeconomic status disparities between migrants and urban natives plays a vital role in the phenomenon. Taking advantage of the unique framework of the RUMiC survey data, we were able to use not only the samples of migrants and urban residents but also those of rural residents to assess the potential channels further. Our results provide some suggestive evidence that self-selection effect and “salmon effect” are possible mechanisms causing this phenomenon.

Suggested Citation

  • Chao Ma & Zhaopeng Qu & Zimeng Xu, 2020. "Internal Migration and Mental Health: An Examination of the Healthy Migration Phenomenon in China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 39(3), pages 493-517, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:39:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11113-019-09552-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-019-09552-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Weilong Li, 2022. "How Urban Life Exposure Shapes Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): An Analysis of Older Rural-to-Urban Migrants in China," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(1), pages 363-385, February.
    2. Fengxian Qiu & Jing Liu & Heying Jenny Zhan, 2021. "Migration and Health—Freedom of Movement and Social Benefits for Chinese Migrant Workers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Healthy migrant phenomenon; Mental health; Rural–urban migrants; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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