Study on the livelihood resilience of relocated households in underdeveloped mountainous areas and its influencing factors: a case study of Guizhou Province, China

Introduction Relocated farmers in underdeveloped mountain areas face multiple livelihood constraints, making it difficult for them to cope with external risks and challenges. Enhancing the livelihood resilience of these households is essential for achieving stable development and common prosperity in resettlement areas. Methods This study focuses on farmers relocated due to poverty alleviation programs in Guizhou Province. A three-dimensional evaluation framework, comprising buffering capacity, self-organizing capacity, and learning capacity, was developed to assess livelihood resilience. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the TOPSIS model were employed for quantitative measurement. The barrier degree model and geodetector model were used to identify key constraints and core drivers of livelihood resilience. Results The findings indicate that: (1) Over 80% of relocated farming households exhibit medium-to-high livelihood resilience, with only a small proportion showing low resilience. (2) county town resettlement shows significantly higher resilience than town resettlement or central village resettlement. (3) The primary constraints limiting livelihood resilience are housing area, arable land area, and labor force size. (4) A key driver of enhanced livelihood resilience is the synergistic interaction between household income and the social environment of the community. Discussion Relocated farmers have largely achieved livelihood transformation. This study provides a theoretical basis for identifying development bottlenecks and offers insights for optimizing support policies in resettlement areas.