Social exclusion and psychopathologies of Chinese floating populations

Abstract

• The data of “Social integration and mental Health” is based on over 15,000 respondents. • Multiple linear regression was used to discuss the impact of social exclusion on the mental health of Chinese floating populations. • It is found that longstanding social exclusion has a negative effect on mental health. • The strain theory of suicide was employed to account for the findings. • The unique urban-rural dual system in China was examined. With the increased economic reform in the past few decades in China, a large number of surplus laborers in rural and underdeveloped areas moved to cities, becoming large-scale floating populations. They have made important contributions to the construction of the nation's economy. At the same time, they suffer from prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion, and urban society and residents made them marginalized. The psychological strains are related to the rural-to-urban floating population psychopathologies. We used the database of “Social Integration and Mental Health” and the multiple linear regression to discuss the impact of social exclusion, such as institutional exclusion, economic exclusion, social participation exclusion, and social welfare exclusion on the psychopathologies of Chinese floating populations. The total sample consisted of 15,999 respondents who were floating populations aged 15–59. We found that longstanding social exclusion has a positive effect on their psychopathologies. The impact of the social exclusion of Chinese floating populations in cities on their psychopathologies can be well explained by the Strain Theory of Suicide.