**1. Introduction**

In recent years, with the sustained and stable development of China's economy and society, the attraction of China's living environment to international immigrants has continued to increase. In 2020, the number of foreign persons living in the mainland reached 850,000, which rose from 600,000 in 2010, an increase of 42% (China National Bureau of Statistics, 2021). At the same time, along with a series of policies aimed at encouraging reasonable population migration, various traditional barriers that restrict population mobility have been broken down. Meanwhile, intensive regional competition has made attracting and retaining young talent an important approach to obtaining development advantages. The urban settlement of young talent has been an important issue in China. For example, in recent years, large- and medium-sized cities, such as Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou, Chengdu, and Xi'an, have introduced "New Deals" for young talent, beginning a "talent grabbing" war. Retaining young talent for long-term residencies and, thus, developing cities has become a common concern for city administration and demographic researchers. Yet, young talent endures unstable career developments and a lack of social

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**Citation:** Yao, L.; Li, X.; Zheng, R.; Zhang, Y. The Impact of Air Pollution Perception on Urban Settlement Intentions of Young Talent in China. *Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health* **2022**, *19*, 1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph19031080

Academic Editors: Roberto Alonso González Lezcano, Francesco Nocera and Rosa Giuseppina Caponetto

Received: 29 November 2021 Accepted: 13 January 2022 Published: 19 January 2022

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**Copyright:** © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

integration, owing to their short stays in new cities. This results in their increased willingness to move among cities, which makes urban settlement challenging [1]. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) suggests that psychological factors (such as attitude, subjective norms, and perceptual behavioral control) indirectly influence individual behavior through behavioral intentions [2]. Based on the TPB, scholars such as Weng and McElroy, proposed the concept of talent urban settlement intentions [3]; that is, the willingness of talent to work and live in a city for a long time. From this concept we can regard "settlement intentions" as a kind of attitude and behavior tendency, which reflects a comprehensive evaluation of talent from various aspects of a city and is a good indicator of a city's ability to retain talent. A comprehensive analysis of the influencing factors of the willingness of talent to settle down can help city administration understand what such talent need from the city and thus enact targeted and efficient public policies and provide public goods.

Various studies have been conducted on urban settlement intentions and their influencing factors on population migration between countries, cities, and urban–rural areas. Related studies show that economic factors (e.g., income level and cost of living) [4], personal factors (e.g., education, occupation, and mobility distance) [5,6], amenities (e.g., entertainment and recreational facilities, cultural facilities, consumer shopping, green parks, and public cultural activities) [7], policy (e.g., household registration and subsidies) [8,9], and social factors (e.g., family and friends' connections, traditional attitudes, and cultural inclusion) [10] are all important influencing factors in urban settlement intentions. In addition, when examining the influencing factors of overseas immigration, Poprawe believes that political corruption can easily lead people to emigrate abroad [11]; Bertoli and Moraga found that the migration situation between the two countries is affected, not only by various factors between the two countries, but also by the policies of a third country [12].

In recent years, as environmental hazards, e.g., air pollution, have become increasingly serious, more individuals consider air quality an important factor when choosing a place of residence (for physical and mental health purposes). A survey conducted by New Fortune magazine in 2013 found that the environment had become one of the important factors to promote to Chinese residents to consider international migration [13]. Based on city level data, Qin and Zhu's research confirmed that, during a period of increasing air pollution, people retrieve "immigrants" through the Internet more frequently [14]. Kohlhuber et al. found that highly educated people are more concerned about air quality [15]. Jacquemin et al. further found that educational attainment was highly correlated with the level of perceived annoyance [16]; particularly, respondents with a graduate degree or higher were found to be the most sensitive to poor air quality. These findings suggest that young talent are more sensitive and concerned about air pollution, and that this may consequently influence their choice of cities when seeking long-term employment. However, existing studies related to population migration settlement have often neglected the topic of air quality [17]. Further, the impact mechanism of air pollution perception on urban settlement intentions has not been examined, although perception is considered important for initiating actions. With increasing concerns about air pollution, it is necessary to introduce air quality factors into analyses, focusing on their impact on the urban settlement intentions of young talent in China.

This paper is devoted to studying the impact of air pollution perception on the willingness of young talent to settle down in Chinese cities, based on the perspective of the inter-city talent competition using young talent as the research subjects. This study further shows how, and under what circumstances, air pollution perceptions affect the willingness of young talent to settle down in cities. Specifically, this study proposes urban residential satisfaction as a mediating variable and empirically tests its mediating role. It also suggests and tests the moderating role of place attachment in the relationship between air pollution perception and urban settlement intentions. The study systematically investigates the impact mechanisms and boundary conditions of air pollution perception on urban settlement intentions. It further provides theoretical references for city administration to improve the urban talent environment, urban talent attraction, and their retention. The study is

structured as follows. Section 2 reviews existing studies and proposes hypotheses for testing. Section 3 introduces the research method and design used in this study. Section 4 presents the empirical results and conducts an in-depth discussion to interpret the results. Section 5 concludes this study by determining future studies.

#### **2. Literature Review and Hypotheses Formulation**

#### *2.1. Impact of Air Pollution Perception on the Urban Settlement Intentions of Young Talent*

By referring to perceived quality research, based on the consumer perspective [18], air pollution perception is defined as people's opinion formed by the air pollution conditions around them and considers the processes by which the opinion is modified. Although there is no research that directly examines the impact of air pollution perception on the willingness of young talent to settle in cities, many scholars have conducted exploratory studies about the relationship between subjective and objective environmental quality and the migration and settlement of a population. Chen et al. analyzed the impact of air pollution on population migration in China from 1996 to 2010 [19] and found that, within the study period, air pollution reduced the in-migration of mobile populations by 50% in a county, ultimately reducing the total population by 5% through net out-migration. However, as Gronroos et al. [20] stated, customer satisfaction regarding a service stems from comparing the customer's perception of a service and their expectations from the service. Accordingly, air pollution perception is a direct reflection of objective air quality, a complement of, and development in, objective air quality, and is a more direct influencing factor in decision-making. Air pollution perception may influence the willingness of young talent to settle down in cities in three ways. Concerns about their own and their family's health may influence the willingness of young talent to settle down in cities. Air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, physiological dysfunctions, and irritate mucosal tissues, such as the eyes and nose, resulting in illnesses or the recurrence of old illnesses in people with a history of respiratory diseases [21]. Continuing to live in a polluted environment may place residents at an increased risk of contracting heart disease and lung cancer [22]. Sun et al. [17] analyzed data from a 2014 survey conducted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission in eight cities, including Beijing, Xiamen, and Shenzhen, and found that, as the concentration of PM2.5 increased, people's health-related expectations decreased significantly. Consequently, young talent may choose to leave such cities. The willingness of young talent to settle in cities may also be influenced by air pollution surpassing all other environmental issues and increasingly affecting residents' trust in the government, becoming a political, societal, and living condition issue [23]. Wang and Han [24] found that air pollution perception significantly affects the public's evaluation of the government's performance. They also found that poor air perception may cause young talent to lose trust in local governments, thus losing interest in settling down in a city. Moreover, additional living expenses for young talent caused by air pollution perception may also influence their willingness to settle down. Further, they are required to pay for the explicit costs of protective equipment, such as air purifiers, and shoulder various hidden costs, such as reduced labor efficiency [25] and increased workdays owing to air pollution. For example, studies show that a 1% increase in suspended particulate matter in the air is associated with a significant increase of 0.44% in the number of workdays lost [26]. The combination of these costs is not negligible and constitutes a "push" factor in migrating from cities.

Therefore, to further explore the relationship between air pollution perception and the settlement intentions of young talent, this study proposes the following hypothesis based on the abovementioned analysis:

**Hypothesis 1 (H1).** *Air pollution perception has a significant negative effect on the urban settlement intentions of young talent*.

#### *2.2. The Mediating Role of Residential Satisfaction between Air Pollution Perception and the Urban Settlement Intentions of Young Talent*

#### 2.2.1. Air Pollution Perception and Urban Residential Satisfaction

Satisfaction occurs when people's inner desires and all their subjective feelings are in tune with each other. It is reflected in a person's psychological state, when one is extremely pleased and comfortable [27]. Scholars, such as You and Chen [28], defined urban residential satisfaction as the public's satisfaction assessment, based on the accumulation of all environmental feelings. An empirical study on the elderly found that subjective evaluations, that is, perceived factors, explained the degree of variation in residential satisfaction much more effectively than objective environmental variables [29]. Objectively measured air quality ultimately affects residential satisfaction by influencing the subjective perceptions of young talent. Air pollution directly triggers sensory discomfort, which consequently causes negative emotions. Moreover, studies show that, although individuals have many behavioral beliefs, only a relatively small number of these are accessible at any given time and in any given context. These obtainable beliefs, also referred to as salient beliefs, are the cognitive and emotional bases for behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceptual behavioral control [30]. Young talent is more concerned about air quality and have higher expectations regarding this issue [31]. Therefore, for young talent, air pollution perception becomes a salient belief that profoundly influences residential satisfaction. If their perception of air quality differs from their preferred conditions, it causes a negative assessment of their satisfaction with urban living. Therefore, perceived air pollution is a subjective perception and an important aspect of the urban environment from the point of view of young talent and is likely to significantly influence residential satisfaction.

Accordingly, the study hypothesizes the following:

**Hypothesis 2a (H2a).** *Air pollution perception has a significant negative impact on the urban residential satisfaction of young talent*.

#### 2.2.2. Residential Satisfaction and the Urban Settlement Intention of Young Talent

People tend to follow practices that satisfy them. In other words, satisfaction drives loyalty. Cardozo [32] suggested that customers are more likely to purchase a product again (or other goods) if they are satisfied with a merchant's production. Similarly, if young talent has high-level residential satisfaction in a city, they are more likely to continue living there. In other words, residential satisfaction generates a willingness to settle down in cities. Weng et al. [33] proposed the concept of regional commitment in his study on talent agglomeration, arguing that, if the regional environment matches the growth and living needs of talent, that is, if they experience good residential satisfaction, it can generate regional commitment between the talent and the city. This will, in turn, result in the desire to actively work to promote regional development. Therefore, residential satisfaction evaluates the degree to which the needs of young talent are met. According to customer loyalty and regional commitment theories, high-level urban residential satisfaction can make young talent emotionally "loyal" to a city, promote strong regional commitments, and make them willing to invest more in regional development. Liang [34] found that satisfaction with urban life has a significant impact on the willingness of a migrant population to settle down, especially those who are "relatively satisfied" and "very satisfied". Yao [35] conducted a large-scale questionnaire survey of foreign residents in Shanghai and found that the higher the satisfaction of foreign migrants with the city and community, the greater the likelihood of their long-term residence in Shanghai.

Accordingly, this study hypothesizes the following:

**Hypothesis 2b (H2b).** *Residential satisfaction has a significant positive impact on the urban settlement intentions of young talent*.

2.2.3. Residential Satisfaction Plays an Intermediary Role in the Impact of Air Pollution Perception on the Urban Settlement Intentions of Young Talent

Residential satisfaction reflects whether residents' various expectations and needs from a city are met, resulting in a pleasant and positive state of mind [36]. It essentially reflects the comparison of people's perceptions with their expectations in the context of various urban residence-related factors and satisfaction arises when perceptions meet expectations [37]. Young talent is a group of urban residents who are significantly concerned with environmental issues and the impact of air quality factors on health [31]. If their perception of air quality is not satisfactory, they will feel dissatisfied and choose to relocate to a better environment. Previous research further shows that residential satisfaction is a positive psychological mechanism that can explain proactive psychological processes, such as urban settlement intentions. Further, it links the perceived environment with the intentions of long-term residence [38]. Therefore, this study argues that, for young talent, residential satisfaction may be a psychological mechanism that can effectively convey perceived environmental quality as a livability characteristic; that is, the perception by young talent of air pollution is influenced by the psychological mechanisms of residential satisfaction. This further impacts their willingness to stay in a new city.

This study therefore combines the Hypotheses H2a and H2b and proposes the following hypothesis:

**Hypothesis 2 (H2).** *Residential satisfaction plays an intermediary role in the relationship between air pollution perceptions and the urban settlement intentions of young talent*.

In other words, air pollution perceptions influence the urban settlement intentions of young talent through residential satisfaction.

2.2.4. The Moderating Role of Place Attachment in the Relationship between Residential Satisfaction and Urban Settlement Intentions

Place attachment is a concept in psychology that characterizes the emotional bond and psychological identity between an individual and a specific environment. It refers to an individual's emotional response to their interaction with the environment and reflects a deep emotional connection to the place. Cultural and social characteristics modify this human–place relationship [39]. Psychological attachments to a place, or place attachment, occurs when individuals assign specific values to places in human–place interactions and form a positive emotional tie [40,41]. Place attachment may arise from cognition (i.e., the more you know about a place, the more you love it), well-known or reciprocal social networks, or a special emotional connection [42]. Cassn et al. [43] suggest that people's attitudes and behaviors toward a particular place are significantly influenced by the emotions, meanings, and values that they assign to that place. Young talent, after working and living in a city, become inextricably linked to the city in various ways. A positive link generates positive emotions and is assigned special values, thus developing place attachment. Greater place attachment means that they have special emotional and social ties to a city and a deeper sense of identity and belonging. Therefore, they are likely to give better satisfaction ratings, even when they perceive air quality as being poor.

Therefore, this paper hypothesizes the following:

**Hypothesis 3a (H3a).** *Place attachment inversely regulates the relationship between air pollution perception and urban settlement intentions*.

In other words, relative to weaker place attachment, stronger place attachment will weaken the impact of poor air pollution perceptions on residential satisfaction.

Further, place attachment may not only affect the relationship between perceived air pollution and attitude, but it may also influence the relationship between attitude and behavioral intentions. Although there is still no research in this area, studies in other fields have found similar findings. Scholars studying the loyalty of tourists to tourist destinations show that place attachment significantly influences the relationship between tourist perceptions of a destination and satisfaction with tourism, as well as loyalty [44]. Li and Zhou [45] found that place attachment, as a moderating variable, significantly reinforced positive behavior among tourists, such as protecting tourist attraction sites. Therefore, in conjunction with the analysis above, it can be hypothesized that this moderating factor may exist between residential satisfaction and the urban settlement intentions of young talent. The inclination of young talent to leave a city owing to lower residential satisfaction arising from what they perceive to be poor air quality may be weakened when there is good place attachment. Therefore, this study suggests that place attachment may have a moderating effect on the relationship between residential satisfaction and the willingness to settle down. Accordingly, this study proposes the following hypothesis:

**Hypothesis 3b (H3b).** *Place attachment plays a moderating role in the relationship between residential satisfaction and the urban settlement intentions of young talent and enhances the positive impact of residential satisfaction on the willingness to settle down*.

Based on the above analysis, this study argues that place attachment between young talent and a city creates a deep emotional connection and a special value ascription between them and the environment. This consequently changes their satisfaction assessment of the air quality of the living environment and the resulting urban settlement intentions. Combining H3a and H3b, this study proposes the following hypothesis:

**Hypothesis 3 (H3).** *Place attachment plays a moderating role among the relationship of air pollution perception, residential satisfaction, and urban settlement intentions; despite a greater place attachment, young talent may still suffer lower residential satisfaction owing to poor air quality. However, the moderating role of place attachment weakens the impact of residential satisfaction on their urban settlement intentions*.

The proposed hypotheses can be further summarized, as in Figure 1.

**Figure 1.** The conceptual model.
