The social income inequality, social integration and health status of internal migrants in China

Abstract

BackgroundTo examine the interaction between social income inequality, social integration, and health status among internal migrants (IMs) who migrate between regions in China.MethodsWe used the data from the 2014 Internal Migrant Dynamic Monitoring Survey in China, which sampled 15,999 IMs in eight cities in China. The Gini coefficient at the city level was calculated to measure social income inequality and was categorized into low (0.2 < Gini <= 0.3), medium (0.3 < Gini <= 0.4), high (0.4 < x < = 0.5), and very high (Gini >0.5). Health status was measured based upon self-reported health, subjective well-being, and perceptions of stress and mental health. Social integration was measured from four perspectives (acculturation and integration willingness, social insurance, economy, social communication). Linear mixed models were used to examine the interaction effects between health statuses, social integration, and the Gini coefficient.ResultsFactors of social integration, such as economic integration and acculturation and integration willingness, were significantly related to health. Social income inequality had a negative relationship with the health status of IMs. For example, IMs in one city, Qingdao, with a medium income inequality level (Gini = 0.329), had the best health statuses and better social integration. On the other hand, IMs in another city, Shenzhen, who had a large income inequality (Gini = 0.447) were worst in health statues and had worse social integration.ConclusionPolicies or programs targeting IMs should support integration willingness, promote a sense of belonging, and improve economic equality. In the meantime, social activities to facilitate employment and create social trust should also be promoted. At the societal level, structural and policy changes are necessary to promote income equity to promote IMs’ general health status.

Regional disparities in the distribution of Sudan’s health resources

“…Lower values indicate less inequality in the distribution of the resources, and higher values suggest greater inequality. A Gini coefficient < 0.2 indicates absolute equality, 0.2-0.3 low inequality, 0.3-0.4 medium inequality, 0.4-0.5 high inequality and > 0.5 represents extreme inequality (25)(26)(27).…”

Income Inequality Affects the Psychological Health of Only the People Facing Scarcity

“…Again, the results are largely inconsistent across studies. A few studies have shown that local inequality relates to stronger feelings of unhappiness, psychological distress, or depression incidence among low-income respondents compared with high-income respondents (Ahern & Galea, 2006;Lin, Zhang, Chen, & Ling, 2017;Oishi et al, 2011). However, the apparent majority of studies showed that individual income does not moderate the relation between income inequality and subjective well-being (Kelley & Evans, 2017), economic worries (Roth, Hahn, & Spinath, 2017), positional concerns (Burns, Tomita, & Lund, 2017), status anxiety (Layte & Whelan, 2014), depressive symptoms (Van Deurzen et al, 2015), or the prevalence of dysthymic, depressive, and anxiety disorders (Sturm & Gresenz, 2002).…”

Has Rural-Urban Migration Promoted the Health of Chinese Migrant Workers?

“…Li et al [23] noted that long working hours, which are common among rural migrant workers, could explain health deterioration. Lin et al [24] underlined the association between social integration, income equality, and health status. Li Ji [25] concluded that health status worsened with greater urbanization.…”