Rural Areas Of China Research Articles

A benchmark GaoFen-7 dataset for building extraction from satellite images

Accurate building extraction is crucial for urban understanding, but it often requires a substantial number of building samples. While some building datasets are available for model training, there remains a lack of high-quality building datasets covering urban and rural areas in China. To fill this gap, this study creates a high-resolution GaoFen-7 (GF-7) Building dataset utilizing the Chinese GF-7 imagery from six Chinese cities. The dataset comprises 5,175 pairs of 512 × 512 image tiles, covering 573.17 km2. It contains 170,015 buildings, with 84.8% of the buildings in urban areas and 15.2% in rural areas. The usability of the GF-7 Building dataset has been proved with seven convolutional neural networks, all achieving an overall accuracy (OA) exceeding 93%. Experiments have shown that the GF-7 building dataset can be used for building extraction in urban and rural scenarios. The proposed dataset boasts high quality and high diversity. It supplements existing building datasets and will contribute to promoting new algorithms for building extraction, as well as facilitating intelligent building interpretation in China.

New-onset metabolic syndrome is associated with accelerated renal function decline partially through elevated uric acid: an epidemiological cohort study.

The burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) continues to rise globally and is associated with complications of multiple organ systems. We aimed to identify the association between changes in MetS status and accelerated renal function progression through a regional epidemiological survey in China, thus discovering influence factors with treatable potential. This study was a population-based survey conducted in 2008 and 2014, assessing a representative sample of 5,225 individuals from rural areas of China. They were divided into four subgroups according to their MetS status in 2008 and 2014 (Never, Previously abnormal, New-onset, and Consistent). Multivariate logistic regression and stratification analysis evaluated the relationship between clinical factors and renal function decline under different MetS statuses. Smooth curve fitting further addressed the role of serum uric acid, illustrating the vital turning point of uric acid levels in the background of renal function deterioration. Of all groups of MetS states, the new-onset MetS showed the most significant eGFR decline, with a 6.66 ± 8.21 mL/min/1.73 m2 decrease over 6 years. The population with newly-onset MetS showed a considerable risk increase in delta eGFR with a beta coefficient of 1.66 (95%CI=1.09-2.23) after necessary correction. In searching for the drivers, the strength of the association was significantly reduced after additional adjustment for uric acid levels (β=0.91, 95%CI=0.35-1.45). Regarding the turning point, uric acid levels exceeding 426 μmol/L were more significantly associated with the stepped-up deterioration of kidney function for those with new-onset MetS. Metabolic syndrome demonstrated a solid correlation with the progression of renal function, particularly in those with newly-onset MetS status. In addition to the diagnostic components of MetS, hyperuricemia could be used as a marker to identify the high risk of accelerating eGFR decline early. Furthermore, we suggested a potential renal benefit for the newly-onset MetS population when maintaining their serum uric acid level below the criteria for asymptomatic hyperuricemia.

Long-Term Dynamics of Atmospheric Sulfur Dioxide in Urban and Rural Regions of China: Urbanization and Policy Impacts

High levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) due to human activities pose a serious air pollution issue in China, especially in urban agglomerations. However, limited research has investigated the impact of anthropogenic emissions on higher SO2 concentrations in urban regions compared to rural areas in China. Here, we analyzed the trends in SO2 concentrations from 1980 to 2021 in China using the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) dataset. SO2 column concentrations from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) during the years 2007–2021 were also examined for validation and comparison purposes. Eight representative areas, including four urban regions (Pearl River Delta [PRD], Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei [BTH], Yangtze River Delta [YRD], and Sichuan Basin [SCB]) and four rural regions (Northeast Region [NER], Mongolian Region [MR], West Region [WR], and Tibetan Plateau Region [TR]) were selected for the analysis. Overall, a significant but fluctuating increase in SO2 concentrations over China was observed during 1980–2021. During 1980–1997 and 2000–2010, there was an increase in SO2 concentration, while during 1997–2000 and 2010–2021, a decreasing trend was observed. The average increase in SO2 concentration was approximately 16 times higher in urban regions than in the rural background. We also found that SO2 dynamics were highly associated with expansion of urban areas, population density, and gross domestic product. Nonetheless, since 2007, SO2 concentrations have exhibited a downward trend, which is mainly attributed to the air pollution policies implemented by the Chinese government. Our findings highlight the need for further studies on the impact of SO2 on regional climate change in China.

The effect of health coaching on blood pressure control and disease self-management among patients in rural area in China: a randomized controlled trial.

The self-management education for patients with hypertension has not been widely provided in rural areas of China. Our study aimed to examine the effect of health coaching intervention on controlling BP and improving self-management skills among rural resident of ≤6 month-history of hypertension. A total of 102 participants were enrolled in the RCT. The control group received usual health guidance and follow-up management; the experimental group received health coaching and follow up management. The primary outcomes were the difference in changes of BP and mean self-management scores. The secondary outcomes included waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and medication literacy. Participants in the experimental group showed a significantly greater improvement with respect to systolic BP and diastolic BP respectively (133.85 ± 4.74 mmHg vs 127.96 ± 5.42 mmHg;80.94 ± 5.52 mmHg vs 77.37 ± 4.44 mmHg, P < 0.05) and BMI (24.66 ± 2.19 kg/m2 vs 23.44 ± 2.05 kg/m2, P < 0.05) compared with the control group. A significant difference was also observed between the experimental and control groups in terms of self-management and medication literacy at both 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in changes of waist circumferences between the two groups (22.6% vs 38.8%). In conclusion, for patients with diagnosed with hypertension within the last 6 months, health coaching maybe is an effective approach to control blood pressure and improve medication literacy and self-management skills.

Towards integrated sustainability for China's rural revitalization: an analysis of income inequality and public health.

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being are paramount among the priorities outlined in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. In China, rural revitalization stands as a pivotal national strategy aimed at fostering prosperity and sustainable development in rural areas. Despite its comprehensive evaluation system, which encompasses industry, ecology, culture, organization, and livelihood, the current index system overlooks the critical dimension of public health in rural areas. The existing body of literature predominantly focuses on the correlation between income and health, leaving a gap in understanding the relationship between income inequality and health from the perspective of villagers. This study addresses this gap by utilizing data from 3,771 villager samples and 302 village samples obtained from the 2019 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) to explore the correlation between income inequality and public health in China's rural areas. We employ the Ordered Logistic Regression (Ologit) model in the baseline regression and heterogeneity analysis. Additionally, a mediating effect analysis, using the Sobel test, examines the role of villagers' health awareness as a mediating variable in the correlation between income inequality and villagers' health. The empirical findings of this study unveil a statistically significant adverse influence of income inequality on public health in China's rural areas. Furthermore, the research identifies that participation in regular exercise and the attainment of higher education levels serve as effective measures to alleviate the detrimental impact of income inequality on the health of rural residents. Additionally, income inequality is observed to shape villagers' health awareness, thereby influencing their overall health status. The study's outcomes have significant implications for policymakers and governmental authorities, providing valuable insights into some pathways for enhancing public health in rural China. Ultimately, these insights contribute to the broader objective of achieving integrated sustainability in rural China.

Using solar-assisted biogas for space heating in rural China: An optimization case study

While biomass feedstock is readily available in rural areas of China, offering considerable potential for biogas utilization, the predominant use of biogas systems is limited to cooking rather than heating. This limitation arises from the mismatch between the high demand for heating in winter and the relatively low biogas production rates, creating a supply–demand disparity. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the heating reliability of the biogas system while simultaneously reducing the overall heating system cost. To achieve this goal, we propose an optimized operational strategy and design method centred around the concept of supply–demand matching. Our approach involves implementing a passive solar greenhouse-assisted centralized biogas production and decentralized heat supply system. The size of the biogas plant is tailored to meet specific user demands, with user demand regulation achieved through biogas storage capacity. Optimization techniques include feed time and insulation quilt control, leveraging waste heat recovery, as well as biogas storage optimization through adjustments in hydraulic residence time. The optimized design of the representative project demonstrates a significant reduction in the construction cost of the digester and storage tanks, which was 1/3 less compared to the pre-optimization period. Considering government subsidies, the price of biogas was only 54% of the local natural gas price, substantially reducing the overall cost of heating.

Research on the impact of the socio-educational environment on the academic performance of college students: the mediating role of study motivation.

Enhancing the academic performance (AP) of college students can contribute to the overall scientific literacy among this population, thereby fostering societal progress. The study investigates the correlation between college students' AP and the socio-educational environment (SEE, including family, roommates, and teachers), study motivation (SM, including self-efficacy and study behaviors). Based on the research findings, recommendations are offered to students, educators, and school administrators. Utilizing a stratified sampling approach, data was collected by selecting a sample of 330 first-year computer science students from a specific local university in Hebei Province, China. Data will be collected through a hierarchical sampling method. Using correlation analysis, difference analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) as data analysis methods. The data passed reliability and validity analysis (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.88, KMO = 0.88, χ2/df = 1.49RMSEA = 0.04). The independent sample T-test results showed that female students had higher academic performance than male students (p < 0.001), and there was no significant difference in academic performance between students from single parent or orphan families and students from normal families (p = 0.14), from non urban areas and from urban areas (p = 0.67). The results of the mediating effect analysis indicate that SM exerts complete mediation in the association between SEE and AP, with a mediating effect value of 0.18. The educational disparity between urban and rural areas in China is gradually narrowing. Support policies for students from impoverished families in higher education institutions are showing initial effectiveness. The conducive learning environment and educational atmosphere for students can indirectly influence their psychological state, thus impacting their academic performance during their university years.

Implementation Path of Legalization in Rural Governance in China

The rule of law serves as the foundation for constructing modern rural governance mechanisms and stands as an essential avenue toward achieving modern governance. Influenced by unique natural environments and diverse cultural customs, remote rural areas in China still face challenges in the construction of rural legal foundations, the inadequacy of legal systems in rural governance, insufficient public legal services in rural areas, and a lack of institutional mechanisms for diverse participation in the legalization of rural governance. To address these issues, there is a necessity to prioritize the most pressing needs of farmers. This necessitates focusing on building a comprehensive legal system in agricultural domains, emphasizing the status of village regulations and customary laws, strengthening rural public legal service systems, innovating methods of legal education, and fostering a legal atmosphere. This approach aims to expedite the process of legalizing rural governance.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression Among Women in Low‐Income Developing Rural Areas: A Cross‐Sectional Study in China

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) significantly affects the welfare of mothers, infants, families, and communities. Mothers in rural areas often face low incomes, poor social security, low education levels, and inadequate medical services. These specific cultural, social, and economic aspects have led to a worsening of PPD in rural areas. However, the current situation of PPD among women in rural areas of China is still insufficiently explored.Aim: This study aims to explore the prevalence and risk factors of PPD among women in low‐income developing rural areas of China.Methods: A cross‐sectional design was used in this study. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was applied to evaluate PPD symptoms. General demographic questionnaire, obstetrics‐/pediatrics‐related questionnaire, and psychosocial‐related questionnaire were adopted. Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) was utilized to assess experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy and postpartum. Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) was utilized to measure their levels of social support.Results: Of the 467 participants, the overall prevalence of PPD among women in rural areas of China was 16.5%, and the average EPDS score was 8.35 (SD = 4.50). PPD occurred most frequently at 7–9 months postpartum (33.8%). Six factors associated with PPD were whether the sex of the baby was in line with the family’s expectations, monthly income of partners, social support, IPV during pregnancy and childbirth, and negative life events in the last 1 year, as well as physical and mental exhaustion from caring for a baby.Conclusions: This study sheds light on the prevalence and various risk factors associated with PPD among women residing in low‐income developing rural areas of China. The findings highlighted the need for targeted interventions and support systems designed to address the specific socioeconomic and cultural difficulties encountered by rural mothers.

Research on Empirical Analysis of the Equity of Compulsory Education in Rural Areas of China

Research on Empirical Analysis of the Equity of Compulsory Education in Rural Areas of China

Multi-omics analysis to reveal the synergistic mechanism underlying the multiple ingredients of Stephania tetrandra extract on rheumatoid arthritis through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Background: Stephania tetrandra has been used for treating rheumatic diseases for thousands of years in rural areas of China. Several studies have found that tetrandrine and fangchinoline can inactivate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by reducing the expression and phosphorylation of AKT. However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic actions of S. tetrandra on RA is not well known. Methods: In this study, we determined the molecular mechanism of the therapeutic effects of the multiple ingredients of S. tetrandra extract (STE) on collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) rats by integrating pharmacometabolomics, proteomics, and PTMomics. Results: In the multi-omics joint analysis, first, the expression signatures of proteins, PTMs, metabolites, and STE ingredients were profiled in CIA rats PBMCs that underwent STE treatment. Bioinformatics analysis were subsequently probed that STE mainly regulated tryptophan metabolism, inflammatory response, and cell adhesion pathways in CIA rats. The interrelated pathways were further constructed, and the findings revealed that STE attenuated the inflammatory response and proliferation of PBMCs in CIA rats by mediating the key targets of the PI3K/Akt pathway, including Hint1, ACP1, FGR, HSP90@157W + dioxidation, and Prkca@220N + 845.4540Da. The rheumatic functions of Hint1 and ACP1 were further confirmed by applying a transcriptomic data of RA patients who clinically received abatacept therapy. Furthermore, a cross-ome correlation analysis was performed and major in vivo ingredients of STE, including coclaurine-N-glucuronide, Me,coclaurine-O-glc, N-gluA-schefferine, corydamine, corypamine, tetrandrine, and fangchiniline, were found to act on these targerts to inactivate the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conclusion: These results elucidated the molecular mechanism by which the ingredients of STE mediate the expression of the key targets in the PI3K/Akt pathway, leading to anti-rheumatic functions. The findings of this study provided new insights into the synergistic effect of STE against arthritis in rats.

Research on Fuzzy Evaluation of Village Officials Based on Triangular Multiplication Preference Relationship Theory

Our research objective is to establish a fuzzy evaluation mechanism for rural village officials in China using the theory of triangular multiplication preference relationships. Our survey targets villagers in rural areas of China where village autonomy is implemented. The research methods include a questionnaire survey, Delphi, and fuzzy evaluation methods. After research analysis and comparison of results, it is shown that for the evaluation index system of village officials constructed using the Delphi method, practical evaluation of village officials can be achieved through fuzzy comprehensive evaluation based on triangular multiplication preference relationships. Using the Delphi technique, this article first created a village official assessment index system. It then performed validity tests based on the Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett index system, as well as reliability testing using the Cronbach coefficient. Then, the preference relationship of triangular multiplication and the root product square method were used to determine the weight of the questionnaire indicators, and consistency was judged. Then, based on the membership function, the fuzzy boundaries of various indicators are displayed to construct a fuzzy evaluation matrix. Finally, the evaluation matrix is subjected to the Zadeh operation to obtain a fuzzy, comprehensive evaluation result of the work performance of village officials. Our main contribution is establishing an evaluation index system for village officials through the Delphi method and achieving a practical evaluation of village officials using triangular multiplication preference relationships and fuzzy evaluation theory.

Profiles of physical frailty, social frailty, and cognitive impairment among older adults in rural areas of China: a latent profile analysis.

As China rapidly ages, it has now become a deeply aging society with the largest number of older individuals in the world. The issue is particularly severe in rural areas. With the aging population growing and the older population expanding, health problems are becoming more prevalent among older individuals, particularly frailty and cognitive impairments. This study aimed to identify the profiles of physical frailty, social frailty, and cognitive impairment among older adults and explore the influencing factors. In this cross-sectional study, participants were recruited from six villages in four cities in Shandong Province, China from July to October 2023 through cluster random sampling. Latent profile analysis was used to determine the profiles of physical frailty, social frailty, and cognitive impairment. Chi-square tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for univariate analysis, while binary logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors. Seven hundred and sixty-nine older adult care in rural areas showed two profiles: the "high cognitive function and low frailty" group (73.7%, n = 567) and the "low cognitive function and high frailty" group (26.3%, n = 202). A binary logistic regression found that older people were more likely to be aged 80 or older (OR = 2.253, p = 0.029), have a low income level (OR = 1.051, p = 0.007), have one or two (OR = 2.287, p = 0.004), or more than three chronic diseases (OR = 3.092, p = 0.002), and report moderate (OR = 3.406, p = 0.024) or poor health status (OR = 9.085, p < 0.001) in the "low cognitive function and high frailty" group. Meanwhile, older adults who have completed high school (OR = 0.428, p = 0.005) or junior college and above (OR = 0.208, p = 0.009), and engage in adequate physical activity (OR = 0.319, p < 0.001) were more likely to be in the "high cognitive function and low frailty" group. In the future, medical professors should increasingly prioritize promptly identifying and intervening in cognitive decline and frailty status in older individuals without delay.

Validity and reliability of the Chinese version of digital health readiness questionnaire among hypertension patients in rural areas of China.

Digital health has the potential to support health care in rural areas by overcoming the problems of distance and poor infrastructure, however, rural areas have extremely low use of digital health because of the lack of interaction with technology. There is no existing tool to measure digital health literacy in rural China. This study aims to test and validate the digital health readiness questionnaire for assessing digital readiness among patients in rural China. Due to the different Internet environments in China compared to Belgium, a cultural adaptation is needed to optimize the use of Digital Health Readiness Questionnaire in China. Then, a prospective single-center survey study was conducted in rural China among patients with hypertension. Confirmatory factor analysis was computed to test the measurement models. A total of 330 full questionnaires were selected and included in the analysis. The model-fit measures were used to assess the model's overall goodness of fit (Chi-square/degrees of freedom = 5.060, comparative fit index = 0.889, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.869, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.111, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.0880). TLI is a little bit lower than the borderline (more than 0.9) and RMSEA is higher than it (less than 0.08 means good model fit). We deleted two items 2 and 4 and the result shows a better goodness of fit (Chi-square/degrees of freedom = 4.897, comparative fit index = 0.914, TLI = 0.895, RMSEA = 0.109, SRMR = 0.0765). To increase applicability and generalizability in rural areas, it should be considered to use the calculation of only the parts Digital skills, Digital literacy and Digital health literacy which are equally applicable in a Belgian population as in a rural Chinese population.

A comparative study of learners' conceptions of and approaches to learning English between high school students in urban and rural areas of China.

A comparative study of learners' conceptions of and approaches to learning English between high school students in urban and rural areas of China.

Research on the Development Path of Digital Enabled Smart Agriculture in Heilongjiang Province

The development of smart agriculture requires the support of digital technology, digital talents, and digital capabilities. Currently, digitalization is developing rapidly in all occupations, and digital technology is rapidly spreading in rural areas of China. As a branch of the digital economy, digital agriculture has promoted the increase of farmers' production and income, as well as the transformation of lifestyle and life philosophy. In terms of developing smart agriculture, Heilongjiang Province has unique natural advantages and agricultural foundation advantages, and will face greater opportunities under the empowerment of digitalization. This article proposes countermeasures to accelerate the integration of agricultural data, accelerate the standardization of agricultural data, accelerate the intelligence of agricultural data, and accelerate the chain of agricultural data to promote the development of smart agriculture in Heilongjiang Province.

Research on the effect of charitable donations on regional medical level.

As the main vehicle for the tertiary distribution, charity has a certain regulating effect on regional medical level. However, the improvement of regional medical effect of charity has yet to be tested. Based on provincial panel data from 1997 to 2019, this study analyzes the impact of charitable donations on regional medical level. The empirical results show that charitable donations widen the gap of overall regional medical level in China, which not only results from the current period but also from charity accumulation in the past. The regional heterogeneity analysis show that charitable donations have expanded the regional medical level of the eastern and western regions, while have no significant effect on the regional medical level gap in the central region. The widening effect in the eastern region of charitable donations is the largest. In addition, charitable donations expand the regional medical level gap between urban and rural areas in China. Charity, as the regional medical development mechanism, has not yet played its due role and advantages in regulating regional medical level gap. Formulating and adjusting the corresponding charity promotion policies is necessary.

How Can the Informal Institutions Regulate Interpersonal Relationship in Small-scale Societies: Observations from Chinese Rural Areas

As a result of China's "rural revitalization" strategy, the study of and response to the informal system in rural China has become an area of practical significance. In the process of policy formulation and implementation, the government's macro-level decisions have encountered some obstacles from the informal system in the countryside when they are implemented at the grassroots level. The research question of this paper is how the informal system in rural China regulates interpersonal relationships in small-scale societies. This question is not only related to the study of social structure within Chinese villages, but also a precursor to rational policy making. This paper adopts a case study research methodology, using existing literature and survey reports as research materials, and qualitatively analyzes rural cases from various parts of China, in an attempt to discover the place and role of informal institutions in the field of rural interpersonal relations. This paper analyzes several modes of operation of informal systems that exist in rural areas of China, and focuses on the favor exchange mode among them. The favor exchange model has a strong vitality in traditional societies, and it regulates interpersonal relations in the society by an informal means of moral supervision. But it also carries the risk of becoming corrosive, a risk that can slowly deprive societies of their creativity and possibilities for progress.

The Effect of "Offline-to-Online" Trust Transfer on the Utilization of Online Medical Consultation Among Chinese Rural Residents: Experimental Study.

Online medical consultation can serve as a valuable means for rural residents to access high-quality health care resources, thereby mitigating the geographic and economic disadvantages prevalent in rural areas. Nevertheless, due to lower cognitive abilities, rural residents often face challenges in trusting and making effective use of online medical consultations. More likely, adopting a bounded rational decision-making model that facilitates the "offline-to-online" trust transfer could prove to be a potentially effective approach. This strategy aims to encourage less technologically experienced rural residents to trust and make use of online medical consultations. This study aims to characterize the status of "offline-to-online" trust transfer among rural residents in the context of internet health care, and analyze its direct impact on facilitating the utilization of online medical consultation. Additionally, we investigate the family spillover effect of "offline-to-online" trust transfer in promoting the use of online medical consultation among rural family members, considering its distributional effect across various education levels of the population. A multistage stratified random sampling method was used to survey participants in rural areas of China from July to September 2021, encompassing a total of 2597 rural residents from 960 rural households. Propensity score values were estimated using logit regression, and the propensity score matching method, using the K-nearest neighbor matching, radius matching, and kernel matching methods, was applied to create matched treatment and control samples of rural residents based on their experience of "offline-to-online" trust transfer. Subsequently, we calculated average treatment effect scores to compare the differences in utilizing online medical consultation between the treatment and control rural samples. As many as 551/960 (57.4%) rural residents experienced an "offline-to-online" trust transfer, with a higher likelihood observed in the older population with lower levels of education and higher satisfaction with local health care services. Furthermore, rural residents who underwent "offline-to-online" trust transfer were 37%-40% more likely to utilize online medical consultation compared with those who did not experience this trust transfer. Additionally, family members of householders who underwent "offline-to-online" trust transfer were 25%-28% more likely to utilize online medical consultation than those whose householders did not experience this trust transfer. Notably, when compared with populations with high-level education, the "offline-to-online" trust transfer had more significant direct and spillover effects on the utilization of online medical consultation services among rural residents with low-level education. To enhance the "offline-to-online" trust transfer among rural residents and its facilitation in their utilization of online medical consultation, as well as other mobile health (mHealth) and ubiquitous health (uHealth) services, we recommend that online health care providers adopt a "patient-oriented" service model. This approach aims to elevate rural residents' satisfaction with local health care services and harness the trust-building functions inherent in physician-patient relationships and among family members.

Statistical analysis of mental influencing factors for anxiety and depression of rural and urban freshmen.

The freshmen stage is a high incidence period for psychological issues. With the increasing gap between urban and rural areas in China, the mental problems of rural freshmen are more prominent in recent years due to the huge contrast of campus life with their growth environment and other reasons. The concern for the mental well-being of both rural and urban freshman students prompted our comprehensive five-year study (2018-2022) on psychological issues in a group of 12,564 first-year students from dozens of public universities in Shandong province. The investigation employed PPS (probability proportional to size) sampling and was conducted near the the end of the first semester. Using the data gathered, we analyzed and compared the indicators of psychological problems in rural and urban freshmen by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. We also conducted a canonical correlation analysis and pathway analysis to examine the psychological factors that contribute to anxiety and depression in both rural and urban freshmen. According to the findings, rural freshmen exhibit significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than their urban counterparts. Inferiority, obsession, and internet addiction were identified as the primary influencing factors of anxiety and depression in both rural and urban freshmen. Social phobia was found to be a significant influencing factor for anxiety in rural freshmen, while bigotry was identified as a specific influencing factor for urban freshmen. Furthermore, the results of the path analysis suggest that anxiety plays a crucial role as a mediating factor between the main influencing factors and depression. These results substantially extend former research in this area and have important implications for the development of effective intervention strategies to address anxiety and depression. According to these results, policymakers should assess and intervene of anxiety and depression as a whole, and provide mental health education according to main effect factors of freshmen from rural and urban areas. Detailed policy recommendations are in discussion and conclusion.