The impact of air quality on public attention to depressive emotions: an empirical examination based on Chinese urban panel data
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Depressive emotions have emerged as a critical public health concern, with their etiology closely linked to the natural environment, particularly air quality. Grounded in environmental stress theory and social support theory, this study utilizes panel data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China spanning 2011-2023 to theoretically analyze and empirically examine the effects of air quality on public attention to depressive emotions and the underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal that: First, improvements in air quality significantly reduce public attention to depressive emotions, a conclusion that remains robust across multiple robustness tests. Second, the unemployment rate serves as a partial mediator between air quality and public attention to depressive emotions, while healthcare workforce allocation and public fiscal expenditure effectively buffer the adverse psychological impacts of air quality deterioration. Third, the influence of air quality on public attention to depressive emotions exhibits significant urban heterogeneity, being more pronounced in eastern and central regions, cities with net population outflows, and mature and declining resource-based cities. By examining environmental public goods and social support systems, this study provides novel empirical evidence for understanding the relationship between air quality and public mental health, offering valuable insights for promoting synergy between environmental policies and social security policies.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Authors: Chao Wang, Haitao Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
Award: G8920889470
OpenAlex ID: W7222485309