The Nonlinear Association and Path Analysis between the Income Level of Rural Residents and Their Health Status

Abstract

In the context of the continuous and in - depth advancement of the Rural Revitalization Strategy, the health status of rural residents has become one of the core indicators for measuring the effectiveness of rural development. This study integrates multi - source data and uses econometric analysis methods such as multiple linear regression models and path analysis to explore the relationship between the income level of rural residents and their health status. The results of the multiple linear regression show that the R-square value of the model is 0.62, the adjusted R-square value is 0.59, and the F - value is 38.7 (p < 0.001), indicating that the model has good explanatory power and is overall significant. There is a significant inverted U - shaped relationship between income and health scores. As income increases, the positive effect decreases marginally. When the annual income reaches 250,000 yuan, the improvement effect of income on health reaches its peak. The path analysis indicates that income not only has a significant positive total effect on the health level but also has an indirect impact through two mediating paths: food consumption expenditure and medical expenditure. This study provides scientific references for formulating targeted rural health policies, helping to improve the health level of rural residents and achieve the goals of the Rural Revitalization Strategy.