The Effect of Neighborhood Experiences on Positive Mental Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Given reduced life spaces, the neighborhood often functions as a social venue for older adults. Yet how these everyday social spaces affect older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing remains largely unknown. Drawing on the GRP-CARE Survey data, this paper examined the relation between neighborhood experiences and positive mental health. Participants were 601 community-dwelling Singaporeans aged 50+ who lived in public housing neighborhoods. Neighborhood experiences were measured using the four-factorial, 16-item OpenX scale (Gan, Fung, Cho, 2019); positive mental health was measured using a six-factorial, 19-item scale (Vaingankar et al., 2011). Both scales have good psychometric properties and had been validated. Path analysis between relevant factors of both scales was conducted using Stata, within a theorized model of causation from neighborhood environment to social factors to psychosocial health. Age, education, ethnicity and sex were controlled for. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a strong, positive association between neighborhood experiences and mental health (p=0.000) even after controlling for personal traits (operationalized as depressive symptoms, GDS) in addition to sociodemographic variables. Path analysis showed that two distinct neighborhood health processes mediated this association. These were (1) the potential for a sense of community in the neighborhood improved emotional support, and (2) having better neighborly friendships improved interpersonal skills. These neighborhood health processes provide us with new lenses to understand older adults’ everyday experiences of their neighborhoods. Community-based interventions to improve older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing may be developed to facilitate these processes. Spatial and programmatic implications will be discussed in relation to age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC).

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

“…Most participants completed primary (39.6%) or secondary (33.7%) education only. Detailed participant characteristics are reported elsewhere [ 41 ].…”

“…Spending more time outdoors enhances neighborhood friendship and interpersonal skills, which in turn improves coping. The neighborhood environment has been shown to provide opportunities to form interpersonal relationships that may be beneficial for older adults’ mental wellbeing [ 41 , 54 , 55 ]. Practicing one’s interpersonal skills may enable older adults to remain engaged, adapt to negative social situations, and grow as individuals.…”

Dementia care and prevention in community settings: a built environment framework for cognitive health promotion

“…Whereas loneliness is a negative appraisal of one's relationships, at-homeness helps us take action for full and fruitful living despite cognitive ill-health [131]. By achieving a sense of "being in place" [132], at-homeness unlocks "a better sense of self for psycho-sociability" [133,136]. In the face of adversity, fulfilling these basic psychological needs enables self-determination [134].…”