Multi-Dimensional Comparison of the Impact Mechanism of the Self-Rated Health Status of Urban and Rural Residents in Chinese Social Environments

Self-rated health status (SRHS) reflects individuals’ social environment, and the difference between urban and rural areas in China further highlights the impact of social environment on health. This paper aimed to systematically analyze and compare the impact mechanism of the SRHS of urban and rural residents from multiple dimensions, i.e., time, space, and scale. Drawing on data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and China Statistical Yearbook, we used spatial, cross, and HLM analyses. Results indicate that: (1) From 2010 to 2017, the overall SRHS level of Chinese residents gradually declined; the gradient pattern of east, middle, and west became more marked, and the health level in rural areas generally fell behind that of urban areas. (2) The focus of SRHS moved toward mental health, and people’s perceptions of the social environment gradually became a key factor affecting health. (3) In the long term, the gradient allocation of medical service resources could narrow the gap between urban and rural areas to comprehensively improve regional health levels.