Supplements

Place-based ecological restoration improves self-rated health in Chinese residents

China's national ecological restoration pilot was associated with a 0.1697-point increase in self-rated health on a five-point scale, compared to non-exposed areas. The effect was robust across multiple sensitivity analyses and operated through environmental, economic, and psychosocial pathways.

Last updated: Aug 11, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Place-based ecological restoration and self-rated health: Quasi-experimental evidence from China.

observational

Wan S · Economics and human biology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Six waves of China Family Panel Studies (not specified in years)
Intervention: Exposure to China's national ecological restoration pilot across prefecture-level cities
Outcome: Self-rated health (five-point scale), plus mediators including PM2.5, greenness, chronic disease, sleep duration, exercise, income inequality, perceived socioeconomic status, life satisfaction, household income, and medical expenditures
Effect Size: 0.1697-point increase on a five-point scale
Population: Chinese residents from the China Family Panel Studies (six waves)

Result: China's national ecological restoration pilot was associated with a 0.1697-point increase in self-rated health on a five-point scale, compared to non-exposed areas. The effect was robust across multiple sensitivity analyses and operated through environmental, economic, and psychosocial pathways.

PubMed: 42561470DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2026.101636

Mechanism Graph

Ecological restoration reduces PM2.5 and increases greenness
↓
Improved environmental quality reduces chronic disease and increases sleep duration and exercise
↓
Restoration also improves income equality, perceived socioeconomic status, life satisfaction, and household income
↓
These combined changes lead to higher self-rated health

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational quasi-experimental design, not a randomized controlled trial
  • ⚠Potential residual confounding from unobserved factors despite multiple robustness checks
  • ⚠Generalizability limited to China's context and specific policy design

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main finding of the study?▼

The study found that exposure to China's ecological restoration pilot was associated with a 0.1697-point increase in self-rated health on a five-point scale.

How did ecological restoration improve health?▼

The health gains were mediated by lower PM2.5, greater greenness, reduced chronic disease, longer sleep duration, more frequent exercise, improved visibility, lower income inequality, higher perceived socioeconomic status, greater life satisfaction, and higher household income.

What study design was used?▼

The study used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design with two-way fixed effects, leveraging the staggered rollout of the policy across prefecture-level cities.

Were the results robust?▼

Yes, results were robust to placebo tests, Goodman-Bacon decomposition, propensity score matching, double machine learning, instrumental-variable analyses, and adjustment for overlapping environmental policies.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Wan S. "Place-based ecological restoration and self-rated health: Quasi-experimental evidence from China.." Economics and human biology, 2026. PMID: 42561470 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2026.101636
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.