Evaluation of rural human settlements in China based on the combined model of DPSIR and PLS-SEM

The rural human settlement environment, closely related to the fundamental well-being of most farmers, is a crucial determinant of farmers' quality of life and is essential to the strategy for rural revitalization of China. This study first constructs an evaluation index system to assess the human settlement quality of 31 provinces and cities in China from 2018 to 2021 and to analyze the internal logical relationship of its dimensions based on the causal DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) theoretical framework and PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model). Secondly, using the evaluation results as a basis, this study examines the evolution characteristics in the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of rural human settlements in China. Finally, the study identifies the constraints by analyzing the variances among the five subsystems of the rural human settlements. It was found that: (1) The ecological “pressure” and environmental “impact” caused by socio-economic “driver” in the countryside, and “response” measures, have combined to result in a change in the “state” of rural human settlements. (2) Temporally, China's human settlements have improved markedly in all 31 provinces (cities). Spatially, the extent of rural human settlements is characterized by “strong in the east and weak in the west”, with obvious spatial heterogeneity. (3) The distribution of rural human settlement quality in China's 31 provinces (cities) exhibits a strong positive spatial correlation, clearly exhibiting high-high (HH) type and low-low (LL) type agglomerations. (4) There are differences in the evaluation value and the magnitude of change of each subsystem, showing that the value of “pressure” dimension is the highest and the magnitude of change is the smallest. Based on the findings of this study, corresponding countermeasures are proposed to provide the current government with a foundation for making decisions to improve the rural human living environment.