Abstract In China, rapid development has led to massive migration from rural to urban areas. A loosening but still restrictive residency registration system and the disintegration of the Chinese social support system create hurdles for migrants seeking to access health care and maintain adequate health. Using data from a survey of 3,024 rural-to-urban migrant workers across seven Chinese cities, this paper explores the relationship between self-rated health and individual and community social capital for China's migrant workers. Results of ordinal logistic regression indicate that, among individual-focused social capital, friend support and the presence of elderly family members in the home are positively associated with self-rated health. Among community-focused measures, trust in community members, community satisfaction and place attachment are positively associated with self-rated health, while neighbouring and organisational social capital are negatively related. This study suggests that social capital operates in complex and multi-directional ways in China and among Chinese migrants; some forms of social capital may be less useful or signal deficiencies in other types of network or resource. Implications for labour, migration policy, health and conceptualisations of social capital in the Chinese context are discussed. Keywords: Internal MigrationMigrant HealthSocial SupportChina Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge Dr Xinping Guan, Professor and Dean of the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at Nankai University and principal investigator of the China Ministry of Education's project 'The Transition of China's Rural Labour to Urban Areas', for access to these data.

Neal Palmer

Qingwen Xu

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS) publishes the results of first-class research on all forms of migration and its consequences, together with articles on ethnic conflict, discrimination, racism, nationalism, citizenship and policies of integration. Contributions to the journal, which are all fully refereed, are especially welcome when they are the result of original empirical research that makes a clear contribution to the field of migration    JEMS has a long-standing interest in informed policy debate and contributions are welcomed which seek to develop the implications of research for policy innovation, or which evaluate the results of previous initiatives. The journal is also interested in publishing the results of theoretical work.

The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (JEMS) is dedicated to publishing high-quality research results on all forms of migration and their consequences. It also welcomes articles on ethnic conflict, discrimination, racism, nationalism, citizenship, and integration policies. Contributions that stem from original empirical research and make a clear contribution to the field of migration are especially encouraged. JEMS has a long-standing interest in informed policy debate, and contributions that seek to develop the implications of research for policy innovation or evaluate the outcomes of previous initiatives are welcomed. The journal is also open to publishing results from theoretical work.

《Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies》致力于发表关于各种形式的移民及其后果的高水平研究成果，同时也欢迎涉及种族冲突、歧视、种族主义、民族主义、公民身份和融合政策的文章。期刊特别欢迎那些基于原创实证研究的贡献，这些研究能够对移民领域做出明确的贡献。《Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies》长期关注政策辩论，欢迎那些旨在发展研究对政策创新影响的贡献，或评估以往举措成果的文章。期刊也对理论研究成果的发表持开放态度。

Social Capital, Migration and Health in the Urban Chinese Context

It is suggested that social capital operates in complex and multi-directional ways in China and among Chinese migrants; some forms of social capital may be less useful or signal deficiencies in other types of network or resource.

Category	Quartile
社会学	1
社会学, 民族研究	1
社会学, 人口学	2

Social Capital, Migration and Health in the Urban Chinese Context

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
ETHNIC STUDIES	1