Subjective Well-Being and Influencing Factors of Ex Situ Poverty Alleviation Migrants: The Case of Guizhou, China

Abstract

With the large-scale implementation of China’s ex situ poverty alleviation relocation (ESPAR) policy, China’s poverty-alleviation migrants (PAMs) have increased significantly in a short period of time. The majority of the literature has indicated that the changes associated with resettlement in, for example, livelihood, living environment, and living standards have improved the lives of the PAMs. However, a few researchers have studied PAMs’ subjective well-being (SWB) after relocation. Taking the PAMs in Anshun City, Guizhou Province of China as an example, this work used interviews and questionnaire surveys to investigate the well-being of PAMs under three resettlement models––resettlement in nearby villages and townships, resettlement in county seats, and resettlement in cities. Through a multiple linear regression model, we analyzed the SWB level and influencing factors of PAMs, and the differences in SWB under different resettlement models. The results show that: (1) the overall SWB level of PAMs is relatively high; (2) living conditions and public services, livelihoods and housing, lifestyle, and social networks all have significant impacts on the SWB of PAMs; and (3) the SWB levels of the migrants resettled in county seats is the highest, followed by resettlement in cities, and resettlement in nearby villages and townships. We also put forward relevant guiding suggestions, hoping to provide references for the sustainable development of future ESPAR projects. Moreover, we hope that this work has guiding significance for improving the mental health of PAMs and constructing healthy living cities for PAMs.