PM2.5與焦慮症關聯跨國跨年分析

Abstract

本研究目的旨在探討PM2.5與焦慮症盛行率之間的關聯性，以填補此一學術研究缺口。有鑑於過去文獻主要聚焦於PM2.5對呼吸道、心血管等器官病變的影響，而對精神疾病的研究相對較少，本研究將透過跨國、跨年次級資料分析，探討PM2.5與焦慮症的關係是否為正向、負向或無直接影響。同時，研究也將納入安全（自傷、他傷）、社會（失業、收入不平等）、經濟（人均收入、人均GDP）及科技（網路）等面向的變數，以釐清這些因素對PM2.5與焦慮症關聯性的影響。本研究方法採用次級資料分析法，蒐集多國多年的PM2.5濃度、焦慮症盛行率及其他潛在解釋變數資料進行實證分析。研究將檢視PM2.5對焦慮症的影響，並進一步探討其他社會經濟、安全與科技等面向的變數是否會改變此一基礎關聯。此外，研究亦將考量人口學因素（性別、成年人/老年人）的影響，並分析PM2.5對焦慮症的滯延與累積效果。本研究結果運用跨國面板數據，強烈證實PM2.5濃度與焦慮症發生率存在顯著正向關聯，其影響是一個跨越不同國家社會經濟背景的普遍現象。我們不僅證實了即時效應，也發現了滯後效應，顯示PM2.5的危害是立即且累積的。此外，PM2.5的效應在控制多重社會經濟變數後依然顯著，證明其為獨立風險因子，且其影響在成年女性等群體間存在差異。本研究綜合討論文獻回顧，PM2.5與焦慮症的關聯性不僅是一個單一國家的議題，更是一個全球性的跨國議題。本研究透過納入多種解釋變數，探討人與環境（自然環境PM2.5、社會環境）之間的互動，有助於更全面地理解焦慮症盛行率的成因。This study aims to investigate the association between PM2.5 and the prevalence of anxiety disorders, addressing a gap in the existing academic literature. While prior research has largely focused on the effects of PM2.5 on physical health, particularly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, studies on its relationship with mental health—especially anxiety—remain relatively limited. Through cross-national and multi-year secondary data analysis, this study examines whether PM2.5 is positively, negatively, or not directly associated with anxiety prevalence. Moreover, the study incorporates variables across multiple dimensions—safety (self-harm, interpersonal violence), social (unemployment, income inequality), economic (per capita income, per capita GDP), and technological (internet coverage)—to clarify how these factors may influence the PM2.5–anxiety association. This study adopts a secondary data analysis approach, collecting multi-country, multi-year data on PM2.5 concentrations, anxiety disorder prevalence, and other potential explanatory variables for empirical analysis. It examines the impact of PM2.5 on anxiety disorders while also exploring whether social, economic, safety, and technological factors alter this baseline relationship. Additionally, the analysis considers demographic variables such as gender and age group (adults vs. older adults), as well as the potential lagged and cumulative effects of PM2.5 exposure on anxiety. Using cross-national panel data, the results strongly confirm a significant positive association between PM2.5 concentrations and the prevalence of anxiety disorders. This effect appears to be a widespread phenomenon transcending national socioeconomic contexts. The study identifies not only immediate effects but also lagged effects, indicating that PM2.5 poses both acute and cumulative risks. Importantly, the association remains robust even after controlling for a wide range of socioeconomic variables, suggesting that PM2.5 serves as an independent risk factor. The study also finds that the impact of PM2.5 varies across demographic groups, with notable differences observed particularly among adult females. This study, in conjunction with a thorough literature review, demonstrates that the relationship between PM2.5 and anxiety disorders is not confined to any single country but represents a global, transnational concern. By incorporating a wide array of explanatory variables, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the interaction between environmental (PM2.5) and social factors, shedding light on the complex drivers of anxiety disorder prevalence worldwide.