Table 4.

Setting and description of related variables.

Variable type		Dimension	Variable	Variable assignment
Dependent variable		Choice of returning home	Whether to return to China	Choose not to return to China = 0, choose to return to China = 1
Independent variables	Control variables	Demographic factors	Gender	Male = 0(control group,), female = 1
			Marital status	Single (control group), in love, married
			Annual household income	Less than 100,000 CNY(control group,), 100,000 ~ 200,000 CNY, 200,001 ~ 300,000 CNY, and 300,001 CNY and above
			Length of study abroad	Half a year (control group,) 1 year, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 years, and above
	Main independent variables	Survival rationality (Life and Risk Factors in Foreign Countries)	Insufficient reserve of epidemic prevention supplies	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			The supply of daily necessities abroad is tight.	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			Risk of collective life in Britain.	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			Infection risk when purchasing outside.	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
		Economic rationality (cost factors of returning home)	The transportation cost is high.	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			The isolation cost is high.	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			The time cost is high	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
		Institutional rationality (Policy control factors)	The United Kingdom’s epidemic control policy is weak	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			China’s epidemic prevention and control policies are effective	1 (very inconsistent)–5 (very consistent)
			Embassy in the United Kingdom to help Chinese international students	1 (very unimportant)–5 (very important)
		Development rationality (personal development factors)	Academic research progress	1 (very unimportant)–5 (very important)
			Graduation and job hunting	1 (very unimportant)–5 (very important)
			Mentor’s requirements and suggestions.	1 (very unimportant)–5 (very important)