Neighborhood environment, social support and subjective well-being of rural migrant women: A case study of Nanjing, China

Abstract

Traditional gender norms and the household registration system in China have longstanding effects, creating unique characteristics and risks for the social support and subjective well-being of rural migrant women in urban areas. The neighborhood community, as their primary living and social space, plays a crucial role in providing social support and enhancing subjective well-being. However, few studies have focused on the social support and subjective well-being of rural migrant women against the special background of China, with even fewer exploring the mediating effects of the neighborhood environment. This paper constructs an analytical framework to explore the relationship between neighborhood environment, social support, and the subjective well-being of rural migrant women. Drawing on 2023 questionnaire data from Nanjing, China, we conducted regression analysis, propensity score matching, and mediation effect tests to investigate these relationships. The results show that emotional support, informational support, and social companionship positively impact rural migrant women's subjective well-being, whereas instrumental support exerts a negative effect. While the built environment generally hinders social support and SWB, the social environment plays a facilitating role, which we argue is due to the particular socioeconomic and built environments of China. Additionally, social support serves as a mediating mechanism linking the neighborhood environment to subjective well-being. Enhancing social support systems and optimizing community spatial planning is essential for improving the social well-being of rural migrant women.