Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Feb 3, 2025
Date Accepted: Apr 2, 2025
The Impact of Perceived Unfairness, Uncertainty, and Life Stress on Urban Residents Health in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
The prevalence of stress factors in urban settings were increased, furtherly, these stressors had huge potential influence on health outcomes.
Objective:
The study explored the effect of perceived unfairness, uncertainty and life stress on self-reported illness (self-reported health status, diarrhea and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs)).
Methods:
Using multistage stratified sampling with convenience sampling, a cross-sectional study was carried out in Xi’an, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Guiyang in China in July 2021, finally, 2,851 participants were included in data analysis.
Results:
The results showed individuals who were at severe uncertainty stress had an OR of 1.230 (95% CI: 1.007,1.503), and those who were at severe life stress had an OR of 1.728 (95% CI: 1.411,2.118), indicated that those individuals who were at severe uncertainty stress and severe life stress were more likely to have poor self-reported health status. Regarding diarrhea, individuals with severe uncertainty stress had an OR of 1.565 (95% CI: 1.270,1.929) compared to those with low uncertainty stress; individuals with severe life stress had an OR of 1.404 (95% CI: 1.136,1.731) compared to those with low life stress, indicated that those individuals who were at severe uncertainty stress and severe life stress were more likely to have diarrhea. As for NCDs, individuals with severe unfairness stress (OR: 1.306; 95% CI: 1.053,1.620), severe uncertainty stress (OR: 1.542; 95% CI:1.248,1.905) and severe life stress (OR: 1.344; 95% CI:1.084,1.667) had higher odds of NCDs.
Conclusions:
To conclude, severe uncertainty and life stress were both associated with increased odds of poor health outcomes (self-reported health status, diarrhea and NCDs), while severe unfairness only affected NCDs. It was hoped that the results of this study could provide empirical reference for the improvement of self-reported illness among Chinese urban residents.
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