Exploring the impact of neighborhood environment on the mental health of rural migrant women: A case study in Nanjing, China

Neighborhoods play a central role in the integration and urbanization process of the migrant population. Rural migrant women in China, influenced by their dual identity of gender and registration status, exhibit unique characteristics and risks in terms of their mental health status and its relationship to the neighborhood environment. However, existing research on rural migrant women is limited, particularly in revealing the impact of the neighborhood environment on their mental health. Drawing on a recent survey conducted in Nanjing, China, this paper uses a structural equation model (SEM) to examine the determinants of mental health among rural migrant women from the perspective of neighborhood effects. The findings suggest that the impact of different factors within the neighborhood environment on the mental health of rural migrant women varies. The built environment has a more significant influence on mental health compared to the social environment. The social environment acts as a mediator and moderator between the built environment and mental health. Distinct differences exist between the pathways by which neighborhood environment affects the mental health of rural migrant women at different socioeconomic levels. Improving mental health and advancing sustainable development goals requires enhancing community environments and addressing the inner needs of rural migrant women. •Improving the neighborhood environments contributes to the rural migrant women's mental health.•Compared to the social environment, rural migrant women are more concerned with the built environment.•The social environment affects the relationship between the built environment and the mental health of rural migrant women.•Having a high socioeconomic status helps to resist the adverse effects of the neighborhood environment.