Neighborhood Makes or Breaks Active Ageing? Findings from Cross-Sectional Path Analysis

Abstract

Mental ill-health prolongs and complicates other chronic illnesses, which is a major public health concern because of the potential stress it places on health systems. Prevention via active aging and place-based interventions thus became increasingly important with population aging, e.g., through health promotion and age-friendly neighborhoods. However, how the targeted outcomes of these efforts are related remains unclear. This paper examined whether the relationship between active living and mental health or health-related quality of life is mediated by neighborhood cohesion. Cross-sectional data were drawn from n = 270 community-dwelling adults aged 50 and above in the Gerontology Research Program—Center for Ageing Research in the Environment (GRP-CARE) Survey. Path analysis showed that one can live actively for better mental health (Btotal = 0.24), but it is largely mediated by neighborhood cohesion (37%). Further examination of the factors of neighborhood cohesion showed that this mediation is explained by communal affordance (Bindirect = 0.05) and neighborhood friendship (Bindirect = 0.05). Additional study of the association between these mediators and factors of mental health revealed two psychosocial processes: (1) better community spaces (e.g., greenery and third places) support communal living (B = 0.36) and help older adults obtain emotional support (B = 0.32) for greater autonomy (B = 0.25); (2) spending more time outdoors enhances neighborhood friendship (B = 0.33) and interpersonal skills (B = 0.37), which in turn improves coping (B = 0.39). In short, the effects of active living on health are limited by one’s neighborhood environment. Neighborhood cohesion must be considered or it may stifle individual and policy efforts to age actively and healthily in urban environments. Context-sensitive implementations are required.

Risk and Protective Factors of Mental Health Conditions: Impact of Employment, Deprivation and Social Relationships

“…Such has been the case: households with bad relationships with other relatives or neighbours are twice as exposed to the presence of a mental health disorder. This agrees with Raynor’s et al findings, where residents of group households characterised by pre-existing precariousness were vulnerable to negative mental health effects [ 41 ], or Gan et al findings, where neighbourhood cohesion plays an important role in the mental health of residents [ 42 ]. Also Subirats et al mention the importance of socialising and relational factors that allow for the genesis of social and community ties promoting social inclusion processes [ 43 ].…”

Public Health Implications for Effective Community Interventions Based on Hospital Patient Data Analysis Using Deep Learning Technology in Indonesia

“…Spatial analysis has been used to enhance the quality of public health interventions [17][18][19]. This work discusses the role of spatial analysis in improving the quality of public health interventions.…”

Neighbourhood greenness moderates the association between physical activity and geriatric-relevant health outcomes: an analysis of the CLSA

“…For example, a more walkable neighbourhood or a neighbourhood with more trees may encourage older adults to walk more [ 23 ]. Neighbourhoods that are age-friendly and provide third places, that is, places other than home or work where people gather for social or recreational purposes, have been shown to be associated with significant physical and social health benefits [ 7 , 24 ]. A gap in our current knowledge, however, is whether the combination of physical activity and neighbourhood characteristics have an additive moderation effect on geriatric-relevant health outcomes.…”