The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups

Abstract Background With the rapid development of population ageing, the international community has been paying more attention to the health problems of older adults and the age-friendly community. But there has not been enough discussion about the internal mechanism of the community-built environm...

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Main Authors: Zhenhua Zheng, Wanting Liu, Yingchen Lu, Ning Sun, Yusu Chu, Hong Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2022-07-01
Series:BMC Geriatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03278-y
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author Zhenhua Zheng
Wanting Liu
Yingchen Lu
Ning Sun
Yusu Chu
Hong Chen
author_facet Zhenhua Zheng
Wanting Liu
Yingchen Lu
Ning Sun
Yusu Chu
Hong Chen
author_sort Zhenhua Zheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background With the rapid development of population ageing, the international community has been paying more attention to the health problems of older adults and the age-friendly community. But there has not been enough discussion about the internal mechanism of the community-built environment that influences the health of older adults. The aim of our study was to explore the complex relationships among community-built environment, social participation, outdoor exercise, and health of older adults, as well as the differences among older adults in different income groups, particular attention was paid to the situation of low-income group. Methods This study used descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation Modeling (SEM) to make a group comparison among older adults in different income groups. The data of this study came from a sample survey in Shanghai, China. Results The study found that health difference exists among older adults in China: the lower the income, the worse the community-built environment, the worse the health. The community-built environment had an important impact on the health of older adults, especially the low-income older adults. And the community-built environment influenced the health of older adults through the intermediary role of outdoor exercise and social participation. Furthermore, the lower the income level of older adults, the stronger the direct effect of the community-built environment on their health; the higher the income level of older adults, the stronger the mediating effect of outdoor exercise and social participation on the impact of the community-built environment on their health. Conclusion Governments should pay more attention to the health and living conditions of low-income older adults and take proactive steps to help them. Community design and construction should pay more attention to the demands of low-income older adult groups, which will help to improve the health inequality of older adults, consequently enhancing older adults’ overall health.
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spelling doaj.art-2ebc3a4b151241939d94aa82014bc3392022-12-22T02:11:47ZengBMCBMC Geriatrics1471-23182022-07-0122111210.1186/s12877-022-03278-yThe influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groupsZhenhua Zheng0Wanting Liu1Yingchen Lu2Ning Sun3Yusu Chu4Hong Chen5College of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Communication and Art Design, University of Shanghai for Science and TechnologyCollege of Architecture & Environment, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background With the rapid development of population ageing, the international community has been paying more attention to the health problems of older adults and the age-friendly community. But there has not been enough discussion about the internal mechanism of the community-built environment that influences the health of older adults. The aim of our study was to explore the complex relationships among community-built environment, social participation, outdoor exercise, and health of older adults, as well as the differences among older adults in different income groups, particular attention was paid to the situation of low-income group. Methods This study used descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation Modeling (SEM) to make a group comparison among older adults in different income groups. The data of this study came from a sample survey in Shanghai, China. Results The study found that health difference exists among older adults in China: the lower the income, the worse the community-built environment, the worse the health. The community-built environment had an important impact on the health of older adults, especially the low-income older adults. And the community-built environment influenced the health of older adults through the intermediary role of outdoor exercise and social participation. Furthermore, the lower the income level of older adults, the stronger the direct effect of the community-built environment on their health; the higher the income level of older adults, the stronger the mediating effect of outdoor exercise and social participation on the impact of the community-built environment on their health. Conclusion Governments should pay more attention to the health and living conditions of low-income older adults and take proactive steps to help them. Community design and construction should pay more attention to the demands of low-income older adult groups, which will help to improve the health inequality of older adults, consequently enhancing older adults’ overall health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03278-yThe health of older adultsCommunity-built environmentSocial participationOutdoor exerciseLow-income groups
spellingShingle Zhenhua Zheng
Wanting Liu
Yingchen Lu
Ning Sun
Yusu Chu
Hong Chen
The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
BMC Geriatrics
The health of older adults
Community-built environment
Social participation
Outdoor exercise
Low-income groups
title The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
title_full The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
title_fullStr The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
title_full_unstemmed The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
title_short The influence mechanism of community-built environment on the health of older adults: from the perspective of low-income groups
title_sort influence mechanism of community built environment on the health of older adults from the perspective of low income groups
topic The health of older adults
Community-built environment
Social participation
Outdoor exercise
Low-income groups
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03278-y
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