The impact of outworking on the health status of rural residents - An empirical analysis based on propensity score matching-difference-in-differences model

Abstract

Abstract Background: Since China's reform and opening up, rural labor mobility has become increasingly evident. In this study, we measured the effect of outworking on the health status of rural residents and tested the net effect of outworking on the health status of rural residents based on a propensity score matching-difference-in-differences model. Methods: Based on panel data from the Ningxia Household Health Enquiry Survey for Rural Residents 2019 and 2022, 26,738 rural residents were analyzed using a propensity score matching-difference-in-differences model to analyze the changes in the health status of rural residents before and after outworking, and robustness tests were conducted by different matching methods. Results: Outworking had a significant positive effect (P<0.05) on the health of rural residents. Robustness tests found that the sign of the estimated coefficients (β>0) and the level of significance (P<0.05) were consistent across the matching methods. The analysis of heterogeneity found that the impact of outworking on health had lower significant coefficients for women, for those aged 45 to 60, and for low and middle-income and high-income households. Conclusion:The human capital of the rural workforce should be enhanced and encouraged to go out to promote employment, which will also play a positive role in improving the health of the rural population.