Table 9 Results of the mediation effect test.

1

Household energy poverty vulnerability → Children’s time in education

−2.84***

Children’s time in education → Cognitive abilities of rural children

10.37***

0.05***

−0.05***

(−11.72)

(34.19)

(3.09)

(−3.46)

2

Household energy poverty vulnerability → Children’s subjective well-being

−0.44***

Children’s subjective well-being → Cognitive abilities of rural children

−0.11**

−0.19***

−0.003

(−2.55)

(−0.36)

(−10.99)

(−1.23)

3

Household energy poverty vulnerability → Children’s health

−0.19***

Children’s health → Cognitive abilities of rural children

0.01**

−0.08***

0.02**

(−11.21)

(2.97)

(−5.65)

(3.47)

4

Household energy poverty vulnerability → Household economic inputs

−23161.46***

Household economic inputs→ Cognitive abilities of rural children

−3271.31

−25,061.78***

−16,764.44

(−5.07)

(−0.42)

(−5.20)

(−2.04)

5

Household Energy Poverty Vulnerability → Mental health of children’s mothers

0.38

Mental health of children’s mothers → Cognitive abilities of rural children

−0.98

−0.19***

−0.002

(1.03)

(−1.54)

(−10.56)

(−1.31)