AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Air Pollution and Mental Health: Evidence from China
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 114,
May 2024
(pp. 423–28)
Abstract
We estimate the short-run effect of air pollution on mental illness. Using the China Family Panel Studies covering 12,615 urban residents during 2014–2015, we find a significantly positive effect of air pollution—instrumented by thermal inversions—on mental illness measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Specifically, a 1 SD (18.04 μg/m3) increase in PM2.5 concentrations over a month increases the probability of having a score value associated with severe mental illness by 7.58 percentage points, or 0.37 SD. We find suggestive evidence that indirect channels—like reduced exercise and physical health—play a role in the effect.Citation
Chen, Shuai, Paulina Oliva, and Peng Zhang. 2024. "Air Pollution and Mental Health: Evidence from China." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 114: 423–28. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20241062Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I12 Health Behavior
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- O15 Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
- P28 Socialist Systems and Transitional Economies: Natural Resources; Energy; Environment
- P36 Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions: Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training: Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty
- Q51 Valuation of Environmental Effects
- Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling