How urbanization affects residents' health risks: evidence from China

Abstract

Abstract To deeply understand the relationship between urbanization and residents’ health risks, it is significant to continue promoting urbanization. Applying regression analysis of Chinese provincial-level panel data from 2004 to 2019, this study explores the nonlinear relationship and regional differences between urbanization and residents’ health risks by using STIRPAT model from two dimensions of the average number of residents’ visits and population mortality. The results show that: (1) on the whole, there is an N-shaped curve relationship between urbanization and the average number of residents’ visits, and there is a U-shaped curve relationship between urbanization and population mortality. (2) In terms of sub-regions, urbanization has an N-shaped curve relationship with the average number of residents’ visits in eastern, central and western regions, while urbanization has an inverted N-shaped curve relationship with population mortality in eastern region, there is no significant trend between urbanization and population mortality in the central and western regions. (3) In areas with high level of infrastructure, urbanization has significant effects on residents’ health risks, while in areas with low level of infrastructure, urbanization has no significant effect on residents’ health risks. Finally, according to the conclusions, some suggestions are put forward, such as building new-type urbanization, perfecting infrastructure, building green urbanization and promoting national fitness program.