Relationship Between Individuals’ Epidemic Risk Perception Within Living Space and Subjective Well-Being: Empirical Evidence from China after the First Wave of COVID-19

Abstract

It is common to observe the epidemic risk perception (ERP) and a decline in subjective well-being (SWB) in the context of public health events, such as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there have been few studies exploring the impact of individuals’ ERP within living space on their SWB, especially from a geographical and daily activity perspective after the resumption of work and other activities following a wave of the pandemic. In this paper, we conducted a study with 789 participants in urban China, measuring their ERP within living space and examining its influence on their SWB using path analysis. The results indicated that individuals’ ERP within their living space had a significant negative effect on their SWB. The density of certain types of facilities within their living space, such as bus stops, subway stations, restaurants, fast food shops, convenience shops, hospitals, and public toilets, had a significantly negative impact on their SWB, mediated by their ERP within living space. Additionally, participation in out-of-home work and other activities not only increased individuals’ ERP within living space, but also strengthened its negative effect on their SWB.