Temperature effects on peoples' health and their adaptation: empirical evidence from China

This study investigates the impact of temperature on the health of Chinese residents and their adaptation by analyzing the effects of acute temperature shocks and anticipated temperature variations on health outcomes. We integrate meteorological data with health data from the China Family Panel Survey (CFPS), which encompasses 645 communities across 25 of the 34 provincial units and includes data from 14,798 households and approximately 33,500 adults. Our findings indicate that expected temperature variations significantly adversely affect self-reported unhealthy status and the length of hospital stays among Chinese residents, highlighting both physiological and psychological adaptation to temperature changes. We found that extremely high temperatures (> 30 °C) had minimal impact on health outcomes after accounting for adaptation. However, the health risks associated with moderately high temperatures (25 °C—30 °C) remained substantial. This suggests that while residents are responsive to extreme temperatures and implement appropriate protective measures, they may underestimate the risks posed by moderately high temperatures, which could lead to significant health issues. Furthermore, our analysis of potential adaptation mechanisms indicates that increased healthcare expenditures and reduced frequency of physical activity are two possible ways in which residents respond to climate change.