AUTHOR=Hou Jingyao , Yue Zhongshan 
  
TITLE=The impact of residential segregation on life satisfaction among rural-urban migrants in China: the mediating role of social capital
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1609726
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1609726
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesRapid urbanization in China has been accompanied by residential segregation, which may influence wellbeing of rural-urban migrants (RUMs). This study aims to investigate the impact of residential segregation on life satisfaction among RUMs, with particular attention to the mediating role of social capital.MethodsWe screened 1,255 participants who met the inclusion criteria from the 2016 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey to investigate the relationship between residential segregation and life satisfaction using ordinary least squares regression and instrumental variable estimation. The mediating role of social capital was evaluated by mediation analysis.ResultsResidential segregation has a significant negative impact on life satisfaction of RUMs. This effect is partially mediated by cognitive social capital, whereas no mediating effect is observed for structural social capital. Among the dimensions of cognitive social capital, neighborhood trust and reciprocity are more significant mediators than familiarity.ConclusionResidential segregation undermines life satisfaction among RUMs partly through weakening cognitive social capital. Policies aimed at reducing residential segregation and promoting trust as well as reciprocity within neighborhoods may help improve the life satisfaction of migrants.