Rural–urban migration and mental and sexual health: a case study in Southwestern China

Figures & data

Table 1. Mental health and sexual risk behavior by migrant status and by residence.^a

	Depression scale (range 20–80)	Sexual Risk Behavior Index (range 0–8)
Migrant status
Non-migrant	32.97	0.18
Temporary migrant with rural origin	34.91*	0.54**
Temporary migrant with urban origin	34.85*	0.63**
Residence
Urban	33.06	0.24
Rural	33.43	0.17
Total sample	33.14	0.22

^aResults are based on “svy” methods in STATA and adjusted for sampling probability and survey design, including intra-correlation (or clustering effect) among respondents from the same township/neighborhood. Statistical significance is based on comparison across the three migrant and non-migrant groups and between urban and rural residence, respectively.

**p < .01; *p < .05.

Table 2. Individual demographic, economic, and psycho-socio-behavioral characteristics by migrant status and by residence.^a

		Migrant status			Residence
	Total sample	Migrant rural	Migrant urban	Non-migrant	Urban	Rural
Demographic characteristics
Male (%)	51.4	50.5	55.7	51.0	50.6	54.2
Age	32.6	29.5	28.1	33.0**	32.7	32.3
Education^b	2.9	2.4	2.9	3.0**	3.1	2.4**
Currently married (%)	81.6	60.2	57.7	83.9**	80.8	84.4
Economic characteristics
Marginalization Index	9.8	10.7	10.5	9.8*	9.5	11.1**
Psycho-socio-behavioral characteristics
Loneliness scale	37.2	40.7	39.9	36.9**	37.0	37.8
Lax Social Control Index	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.4**	0.4	0.5
Living alone (%)	3.5	18.5	20.7	1.8**	3.7	2.6
Sexual Influence Index	0.2	0.4	0.5	0.2**	0.2	0.2

^aSee note a in Table 1.

^bEducational attainment is an ordinal variable: 1 illiterate or semi-illiterate; 2 elementary school; 3 junior high school; 4 senior high school; 5 vocational school; 6 two/three years college; and 7 four years college or more.

**p < .01; *p < .10.

Table 3. Regression analysis of depression symptoms in the week prior to the interview.^a

	Dependent variable: depression scale
Independent/control variables^b	Model 1	Model 2	Model 3
Independent variable
Temporary migrant with rural origins	1.98***	1.03*	−0.43
Temporary migrant with urban origins	1.93**	1.30*	−0.27
Urban residence	−0.41	−0.03	0.23
Demographic characteristics
Male	–	−1.34***	−1.32***
Age	–	<−0.01	<−0.01
Education^c	–	−0.63***	0.08
Currently married	–	−2.49***	−0.79***
Economic characteristics
Marginalization Index	–	–	0.05
Psycho-socio-behavioral characteristics
Loneliness Scale	–	–	0.55***
Lax social control scale	–	–	0.93***
Living alone	–	–	0.16
Unweighted sample size	5442	5393	5342
Model R^2	0.01**	0.05***	0.42***

^aSee note a in Table 1.

^bThe reference categories for the dummy variables of temporary migrants, urban residence, male, currently married, and living alone are non-migrant, female, single, and living with others, respectively.

^cSee note b in Table 2.

*p < .10; **p < .05; ***p < .01.

Table 4. Regression analysis of sexual risk behavior in the month prior to the interview.^a

	Dependent variable: Sexual Risk Behavior Index
Independent/control variables^b	Model 1	Model 2	Model 3
Independent variable
Temporary migrant with rural origins	0.35***	0.30***	0.22***
Temporary migrant with urban origins	0.44***	0.39***	0.25***
Urban residence	0.06	0.07	0.08*
Demographic characteristics
Male	–	0.13***	0.08**
Age	–	<−0.01	<−0.01
Education^c	–	−0.03*	−0.01
Currently married	–	−0.17**	−0.03
Economic characteristics
Marginalization Index	–	–	<0.01
Psycho-socio-behavioral characteristics
Loneliness Scale	–	–	0.01**
Lax social control scale	–	–	0.16***
Living alone	–	–	0.29***
Sexual influence	–	–	0.18***
Unweighted sample size	5442	5393	5342
Model R^2	0.03***	0.04***	0.11***

^aSee note a in Table 1.

^bThe reference categories for the dummy variables of temporary migrants, urban residence, male, currently married, and living alone are non-migrant, female, single, and living with others, respectively.

^cSee note b in Table 2.

*p < .10; **p < .05; ***p < .01.