Study on the influence mechanism of environmental perception on physical health status—with lifestyle as the mediating variable

Residents' environmental perception affects lifestyle choices, which in turn shape health status. Using 2,006 valid samples from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS2021), this study employed the multinomial Logit model and mediating effect model to explore the mechanism among environmental perception, lifestyle, and health. Key findings: (1) Residents are optimistic about macro environmental risks (e.g., air/water pollution) but sensitive to specific risks (e.g., vehicle exhaust); (2) Environmental perceptions (e.g., extreme weather, food safety concerns) positively impact health, while air pollution perception shows no direct promoting effect; (3) Unhealthy lifestyles (insufficient physical activity, irregular sleep) harm health, while adequate sleep and leisure/relaxation (especially frequent relaxation) benefit health; (4) Lifestyle plays a key mediating role: positive environmental perception improves health by enhancing social fairness and promoting social activities, while heightened environmental risk perception inhibits regular exercise, triggering "environmental pressure-behavioral disorder-health deterioration." Innovatively, the study clarifies the chained mechanism of "environmental perception-lifestyle-health" via combined models. Practically, it proposes a health promotion system integrating environmental governance optimization and behavioral intervention, to facilitate a "cognition-behavior-health" virtuous cycle.