Search Results (144)

School readiness during early childhood is crucial for future academic success. Existing guidelines recommend a comprehensive approach. This concurrent validation study developed a School Readiness Index (SRI) with five readiness domains: early learning skills, approach to learning, cognitive skills, socioemotional development, and physical health. Through a cross-sectional comparative design, the school readiness skills of 119 Puerto Rican children (63 males, 56 females) aged 54–65 months were assessed using standardized tests (e.g., Batería IV Woodcock-Muñoz and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery), parental questionnaires (e.g., Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3), and physical health assessments. Each measure was scored and classified using a binary coding system (0 and 1) based on participant abilities (e.g., 1 for expected performance, 0 if below expectations). A composite SRI score was calculated using 25 indicators. Discriminant validity was assessed by comparing children’s registration status in the special education program (SEP). Sex, household income, and maternal education are key determinants of school readiness. Children registered in the SEP had significantly lower composite scores than those not registered, supporting the SRI’s discriminant validity. The SRI is a reliable tool for identifying Hispanic children from Puerto Rico who may benefit from additional support. Inclusive and multidisciplinary assessment strategies are essential. Full article

With the development of higher education, college students have become a new and important group for environmentally sustainable development. How to evaluate and strengthen the practical effect of ecological education is of great significance. Based on the survey data of 1579 university students, this study constructed a systematic index system of ecological education by using a hierarchical evaluation method. Moreover, OLS (Ordinary Least Squares), Oprobit, and intermediary effect models were used to analyze the influence relationship and mechanism of the two empirically and IV-Oprobit was used to solve the endogeneity problem. The results show the following: (1) Ecological education can effectively promote the sustainable behavior of university students, and the probability of university students implementing sustainable behavior increases by 10.7% with each unit increase in the level of ecological education. (2) Environmental value perception such as in individual economic value perception, social value perception, and health value perception are all important mediating channels of ecological education, among which health value perception has the strongest mediating effect. (3) Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure positively moderates the impact of university students’ environmental value perception on their sustainable behavior. (4) There is a significant correlation between university students’ household registration, participation in environmental associations and hometown social networks, and sustainable behaviors. (5) The influence of ecological education on students’ behaviors shows heterogeneity in family household registration. Students from rural families have a higher level of environmental behavior and value perception than those from urban families. Moreover, they are more likely to exhibit behaviors under the influence of ecological education. The above results provide reference suggestions for the ecological education policy system and offer theoretical support and policy inspiration for promoting sustainable behaviors among global college students and enhancing the efficiency of ecological education in universities. Full article

Background and Objectives: Air pollutants have been shown to affect hypertensive disorders and placental hypoxia due to vasoconstriction, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether high levels of maternal exposure to heavy metals during the second trimester of pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia and eclampsia, using national health insurance claim data from South Korea. Methods: Data on mothers and their newborns from 2016 to 2020, provided by the National Health Insurance Service, were used (n = 1,274,671). Exposure data for ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, CO, SO₂, NO₂, and O₃) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, and As) during the second trimester of pregnancy were retrieved from the Korea Environment Corporation. Atmospheric condition data based on the mother’s registration area were matched. A logistic regression model was adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, season of conception, and household income. Results: In total, 16,920 cases of preeclampsia and 592 cases of eclampsia were identified. In the multivariate model, copper exposure remained significantly associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (odds ratio: 1.011; 95% confidence interval: 1.001–1.023), and higher ozone exposure during pregnancy was associated with an elevated risk of eclampsia. Conclusions: Increased copper exposure during the second trimester of pregnancy was associated with a high incidence of preeclampsia. Full article

Migrant workers, vital for urban sustainable development, often exhibit leisure-time physical inactivity (LTPI). Few studies have examined LTPI and its constraints among migrant workers. This study aimed to identify the determinants of LTPI and its constraints among migrant workers. Guangzhou was used as a case study through a questionnaire survey of 26 communities (n = 1024). Logistic regression assessed the impact of household registration on LTPI and its interaction effects. The determinants of LTPI among migrant workers were compared with those of the other groups. The study found a link between LTPI and the living environment among residents and migrant workers. Household registration influences LTPI through interactions with factors such as the number of sports facilities and community greetings. The main barriers to leisure-time physical activity among migrant workers were insufficient education, social capital, and green open spaces. This study discusses the underlying mechanisms and proposes measures to address LTPI among migrant workers. Full article

Residential mobility within cities reflects the spatio-temporal patterns of individual or household relocation behaviors and serves as an effective tool for interpreting urban socio-spatial differentiation from a micro-level perspective. Newly employed college graduates (NECGs) have become the second-largest migrating population in China. This study selects Guangzhou, a megacity, as the study area and utilizes data from the “Guangzhou New Citizens’ Residential Mobility Survey” conducted in 2023. It applies spatio-temporal systems and the spatio-temporal path method based on time geography to explore the residential mobility trajectories of NECGs in Guangzhou. In addition, the study uses a logistic regression model to explore the influencing factors. The findings indicate that NECGs frequently move across districts, showing no significant patterns of concentration or dispersion. However, residential location choices vary considerably across educational levels and household registration natures (Hukou), and as the duration of residence in Guangzhou increases, the probability of residential mobility among NECGs across all educational levels shows a declining trend. Specifically, marital status (life course attributes), housing prices and medical facilities (housing attributes), and job type (socioeconomic attributes) emerge as critical factors influencing residential mobility. By providing a foundation for urban planning policies, this study aims to support the settlement and well-being of NECGs while promoting high-quality urban development in Guangzhou. Full article

In Poland, the development of renewable energy primarily focuses on solar energy, especially through household prosumer installations. One emerging solution for promoting distributed renewable energy is energy cooperatives. The main aim of the research was to identify the legal and socioeconomic factors influencing the formation and growth of energy cooperatives in Poland and to provide recommendations for their development. The research, conducted in 2024, covered 47 energy cooperatives. The data gathered included information from the National Court Register (KRS), the National Support Centre for Agriculture (KOWR), and qualitative research through in-depth individual interviews using the CATI technique (computer-assisted telephone interview). The findings highlight the need to streamline legal regulations concerning energy cooperatives, particularly the dual registration system (KRS and KOWR), which delays operational start-up. They also suggest reviewing restrictions on the area and power capacity for renewable energy distribution. Proper training for cooperative managers and network operator staff is essential. Given the early stage of Poland’s energy cooperative development, ongoing monitoring is necessary. Further research will aid in creating effective tools to foster the growth of distributed renewable energy, especially through energy cooperatives. Full article

The paper addresses the spatiotemporal variability of anthropogenic film pollution (AFP) in Avacha Gulf near the Kamchatka Peninsula based on satellite synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) imagery. Coastal waters of the study area are subject to significant anthropogenic impacts associated with intensive marine traffic, as well as the flow of household and industrial wastewater from factories located on the coast. A quantitative approach to the registration and quantitative analysis of spatiotemporal AFP distributions was applied. This approach is based on the processing of long-term time series of SAR imagery, taking into account inhomogeneous observation coverage and changing hydrometeorological conditions of different regions of water areas in various time periods. In total, 318 cases of AFP were detected in 2014–2023 in Avacha Gulf, covering 332 km² of the total area (~3% of the water area) based on the 1134 processed radar Sentinel-1A/B scenes. The average value of AFP exposure, e, was about 93 ppm, evidencing the high level of AFP in the studied water area (comparable to areas of the Black Sea with intensive marine traffic, for which e was previously determined to be between ~90 and ~130 ppm). An interannual positive trend was revealed, indicating that over the 10-year period under study, the exposure of the waters of Avacha Bay (the most polluted part of Avacha Gulf) to AFP increased ~3-fold. An analysis of AFP spatial distributions and marine traffic maps indicates that this type of activity is a significant source of anthropogenic film pollution in Avacha Gulf (including Avacha Bay). It was shown that the generated quantitative information products using the introduced AFP exposure concept can be interpreted and used, for example, for making management decisions. Full article

Transitioning to a low-carbon electricity model can significantly reduce carbon emissions and offer substantial environmental benefits. A critical factor in this transition is residents’ willingness to pay for low-carbon electricity, which can drive sustainable consumption patterns. Given the internet’s pivotal role in information dissemination and communication, it is important to investigate how internet usage influences residents’ willingness to pay for low-carbon electricity. Using data from the China General Social Survey 2018, Ordinary Least Squares regression and a moderating-effect model were employed in this study to examine the research topic. The findings reveal that internet usage significantly increases residents’ willingness to pay for low-carbon electricity. A further mechanism analysis shows that low-carbon cognition plays a moderating role, enhancing the effect of internet usage on residents’ willingness to pay for low-carbon electricity. Moreover, a heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive impact of internet usage on willingness to pay for low-carbon electricity varies by region, gender, and household registration status. This study contributes to the literature on green energy payment willingness by highlighting the key role of internet usage and providing valuable insights for policymakers to enhance public support for low-carbon initiatives. Full article

Farmer’s incentive is a core issue in achieving sustainable agricultural development. In many developing countries, smallholder farming is predominant in agricultural production, potentially limiting improvements in agricultural sustainability. Promoting agricultural cooperatives is a widely adopted strategy to help resource-poor farmers obtain higher agricultural revenue. In China, these organizations have expanded rapidly since the early 21st century, reaching 2.22 million by September 2023 and providing services to nearly half of farming households. However, their effectiveness and impact on enhancing agricultural revenue remain subjects of ongoing debate. To provide more empirical evidence on this topic, this paper constructs an agricultural cooperatives database based on the national commercial registration enterprise dataset and matches it with the National Fixed Point Rural Survey (NFP). The findings reveal that the development of agricultural cooperatives in China significantly helps farmers enhance their production revenue, leading to an increase in household income. Furthermore, the paper identifies strong heterogeneity in the positive effects of cooperative development at both the village and household levels. In the mechanism analysis, it is shown that agricultural cooperatives in China facilitate increased investment in capital, intermediate inputs, and technology, optimizing the allocation of production factors in agricultural processes, thereby improving land productivity and ultimately increasing agricultural revenue. Full article

Facilitating land transfers and contract standardization is crucial for optimizing farmland use and achieving high-quality agricultural development following the round of confirmation, registration, and certification of contracted rural land management rights by the government. Social trust is crucial for cracking the growth dilemma of land transfer, and the impact of farmers’ trust on land transfer may also change after the round of land titling. This study aims to examine the impact of social trust on farm households’ land transfer decisions and the formalization of land transfer contracts within the context of the new round of land titling in China, using models such as IV-Probit, Heckprobit, and conditional mixed process (CMP), with survey data from 2600 Chinese farmers in 2020–2021. The results show that increased social trust significantly enhances both land transfer and contract formalization, and these results remain robust after addressing potential endogeneity. Further analysis reveals that while interpersonal trust promotes land transfer, institutional trust plays a more pivotal role in the formalization of contracts. The results underscore the importance of strengthening grassroots governance to foster institutional trust, enhance institutional reliability, and support the regulated growth of the land transfer market. Full article

Background: Influenza poses a substantial health burden, especially among older adults in China. While vaccination is one of the most effective preventions, influenza vaccine uptake rates among Chinese older adults remain low. This study examines the individual and combined effects of behavioral interventions based on the Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills (IMB) model and economic incentives in promoting influenza vaccine uptake among older adults living in China. Methods: The study will recruit 640 older adults living in eight communities that have not been covered by the free influenza vaccination policy. These eight communities (as clusters), stratified by urban and rural, will be randomized to four parallel arms, including a usual care arm, an IMB-based behavioral intervention arm, a conditional economic incentive arm, and a combined behavioral-economic arm. The interventions will start from the beginning of the flu season and last for about one month. Specifically, the IMB-based behavioral intervention encompasses health education brochures, healthcare provider-led lectures, interactive quizzes, and personalized consultations. The exact number of economic incentives is conditional on the timing of vaccination (a higher amount for early immunization) and the number of people within a household to be vaccinated at the same appointment (a higher amount for more people). The primary outcome is the influenza vaccination rate. Data will be gathered through vaccination records and questionnaires covering IMB-based vaccination cognitions. Mixed-effects models will be used to analyze the outcome of vaccination rate, reporting difference-in-differences estimates with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions: The results of this study have the potential to inform influenza vaccination program scaleup among older adults who are not yet covered by the free influenza vaccination policy. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval has been granted by the ethics commission of Peking University Health Science Centre (IRB00001052-24090). Participants will be required to sign a written consent form. Findings will be reported in conferences and peer-reviewed publications in accordance with the recommendations of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials. Registration number: This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400090229). Full article

In recent years, with the further advancement of China’s urbanization process and the continued expansion of its migrants, increasing attention has been directed toward migrants’ intentions to settle and their integration into host cities. However, the role of early urban experiences on migrants’ long-term residence intention remains unclear. Using data from the Chinese Migrant Dynamics Monitoring Survey, we examine the impact of age at first migration on the long-term settlement intention of migrants in China and the underlying influencing mechanisms. We find that migrants who migrate to cities at a younger age have higher intentions to settle in cities. The mechanism analysis suggests that migrating to cities at a younger age facilitates social integration, promotes the convergence of habits and improves dialect proficiency. Moreover, a heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effects of early city migration on long-term settlement intentions are more pronounced among migrants who migrate less frequently, are unmarried and have resided in the local area for a longer period. Further study shows that early migration to cities also positively impacts the settlement intention involving the transfer of one’s household registration (hukou) status. Full article

An important feature of China’s housing market is the coexistence of a high house-price- to-income ratio and high homeownership rates. The purpose of our study is to reveal the root causes of this paradox from a new perspective and theoretical foundation. Based on questionnaire data from Hangzhou and logistic regression models, our research finds that the most important factors driving middle and lower-income groups to buy homes are its unique household registration and school district housing system, underdeveloped housing rental market and inadequate regulatory system, and the wealth appreciation effect caused by the continued rise in housing prices. Furthermore, intergenerational wealth transfers, private lending, and China’s generous home mortgage policies have made homeownership possible for this groups. However, the high house-price-to-income ratio leads to heavy financial pressure on the middle- and low-income groups and is not conducive to sustainable and healthy economic development. To this end, we suggest that the government accelerate the equalization of public services, improve the regulatory system governing the rental housing market, and control the unreasonable rise in housing prices and diversify investment channels for residents. Full article

This paper studies households’ expenditure on the education of children in China’s cities to assess how internal migrant families’ investment in the human capital of their offspring differs from that of local urban families. The private education-related expenditure reflects both households’ willingness to invest in human capital and institutional constraints, as China’s household registration (hukou) system prevents children without a local city hukou from enrolling in urban public schools. In-school fees (consisting of statutory tuition and institutional tuition fees) are commonly topped-up with substantial private tutoring expenditure. We apply multiple regression to the 2008 “Rural–Urban Migration Survey in China” data to analyze the average expenditure differences between temporary migrants, permanent migrants and locals. The findings are, after controlling for social and economic characteristics, that: (1) the overall spending on education of migrant households overwhelmingly exceeds that of locals, which is expected since migrants must finance privately all education-related expenses their children incur; (2) migrant households spend more on institutional tuition fees compared to households with a local city hukou, reflecting the varying severity of administrative hurdles faced by families; and (3) temporary migrants spend more on institutional tuition fees than permanent migrant households, but less in private tutoring. Full article

Against the backdrop of Healthy China and an aging population, there is an urgent need to explore the effect of the Healthy Cities Pilot Policy (HCPP) on residents’ labor supply. This study integrates the HCPP, residents’ health, and labor supply time into a unified analytical framework. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) spanning the period 2011–2020 and leveraging the quasi-natural experiment provided by China’s 2016 HCPP, we empirically investigate its effects on labor supply time among middle-aged and elderly workers. Our findings indicate: (1) HCPP increases average weekly working hours by 2.834 h in pilot cities. (2) HCPP significantly enhances residents’ health status in pilot cities, extending their healthy time. (3) Middle-aged and elderly workers allocate more of their extended healthy time to labor rather than leisure, potentially influenced by traditional Chinese perceptions of “ceaseless toil”. (4) The impact of HCPP on labor supply time exhibits group heterogeneity, with stronger promotion effects observed among vulnerable middle-aged and elderly groups characterized by older age, rural household registration, lower educational attainment, and lower income levels. This research offers insights for policymakers aiming to optimize health policies and promote sustainable development within Chinese society. Full article