Cross-crisis effects of COVID-19 on air pollution risk perception and mental stress

This research investigates the cross-crisis effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perception of persistent environmental risks, specifically air pollution, and its subsequent impact on mental stress. Utilizing a comprehensive methodology, the study draws upon representative surveys conducted in Nanjing both prior to (2018–2019) and during (2022) the pandemic. This primary data is triangulated with geotagged social media posts from Nanjing (2019–2022) and global risk perception data from the World Risk Poll (2019; 2021). The investigation develops and tests theoretical models to elucidate how acute societal shocks, such as a pandemic, reconfigure public perceptions of chronic environmental hazards. Key findings indicate a significant reduction in perceived air pollution risks during

the pandemic, consistent with the finite-pool-of-worry hypothesis. While this shift partially mitigated stress, the pandemic concurrently introduced additional psychological burdens, resulting in a net increase in mental stress. The study further reveals that neither reduced PM2.5 exposure nor enhanced trust in air pollution governance mediated these changes in risk perception. Crucially, the crisis exacerbated the negative influence of perceived physical symptoms on mental well-being, highlighting increased vulnerability under acute crisis conditions. These results underscore the complex interplay between acute and chronic risks, emphasizing the necessity for integrated environmental governance, compound risk communication strategies, and timely mental health support in a multi-crisis environment.

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