Perceived life stressors and societal risk judgments of Rural Residents: Moderate effects of public satisfaction with local administrations

摘要

The purpose of present study was to explore the relationship between perceived life stressors and judgment to societal problems, and the moderating role of public satisfaction with local administrations. By using four waves of the Social Attitudes Survey of Urban-Rural Residents (China) in one province since year 2004, panel data analysis was used to investigate the hypothesized relationships. Results showed that perceived stressors are positively correlated to judgments to societal problems, and public satisfaction with local administrations moderates the relationship between them. The findings of the study have strong practical implications. Perceived stressors can be the indicators of judgment to societal problems. Based on attitude change theory, persuasion strategy can be used to change the rural residents' satisfaction with local administrations, through which, their judgment to societal problems could be changed.