The association between perceived social and physical environment and mental health among older adults: mediating effects of loneliness

Abstract Research shows that healthy ageing is defined differently by older adults and researchers, who may put more or less weight on the physiological, psychological, societal and personal aspects of ageing. Although there is growing interest in the research literature on lay models of healthy ageing in socio-cultural context, little work has been done to determine how important or feasible the various components of healthy ageing are viewed to be by older adults. This study asked a convenience sample of 54 older adults in the circumpolar North to rate the importance and feasibility of 36 previously identified components of healthy ageing in their community. Results indicate that seniors in the sample place the most importance on aspects of the social and physical environment, while least important concepts included psychological and individual behaviours. However, most feasible aspects were individual behaviours and least feasible were aspects of the social and physical environment. Although older adults are able to construct a model of what healthy ageing should look like in their community, they do not always view the most important aspects of healthy ageing to be the most feasible to achieve, providing ample opportunity for public and social policy change.

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The Mediating Effects of Resilience, Morale, and Sense of Coherence Between Physical Activity and Perceived Physical/Mental Health Among Japanese Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2017-0265 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 544-552 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Hiroko Kukihara ◽

Niwako Yamawaki ◽

Michiyo Ando ◽

Yoshiko Tamura ◽

Kumi Arita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sense Of Coherence ◽

Short Form ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Mediating Effects ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effects of resilience, morale, and sense of coherence on the relationship between physical activity and respondents’ perceived physical/mental health and depression among community-dwelling older adults in Japan. The study included 369 participants with an average age of 74 years from Kasuishimohara District in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. They completed a survey that included the Resilience Scale, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Medical Outcomes Short Form 8, the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Short Form), and a demographic questionnaire. The results of the path mediation analyses revealed that resilience and morale fully mediated the relationship between physical activity and perceived physical/mental health and depression. However, sense of coherence was not a significant mediator. Some intervention programs are suggested to maximize the effects of physical activity on one’s well-being. At-risk populations who need such programs are also discussed.

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Wake After Sleep Onset Mediates the Link Between Neighborhood Social Environment and Cognition in Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1467 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 380-381

Author(s):

Kexin Yu ◽

Paul Duberstein ◽

Bernadette Fausto

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Environment ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Social Life ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Sleep Onset ◽

Public Health Intervention ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Social And Physical Environment

Abstract Cognition is influenced by the neighborhood social and physical environment, but the underlying mechanisms by which neighborhood environment affects cognition are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that sleep mediates the effects between environmental exposures and cognition. We employed structural equation modeling to examine interrelationships among neighborhood social and physical environment, actigraphic sleep characteristics, and global cognition in a sample of older adults (N=3,196) from Round 2 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Results indicated that participants with better cognition lived in salutary (e.g., cohesive, safe) social environments (est.=0.03, p<.001) and less disruptive (e.g., noisy, polluted) physical environments (est.=-0.04, p<.001). The mediation hypothesis was partially supported. Time spent awake after sleep onset mediated the social environment-cognition relationship, but sleep characteristics did not mediate the physical environment-cognition relationship. Future work should identify other environmental influences on sleep and cognition in aging to inform public health intervention priorities.

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Effect of Working After Retirement on the Mental Health of Older People: Evidence From China

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.731378 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Lin Xie ◽

Yi-dan Yao ◽

Li-li Tang ◽

Shuo Zhang ◽

Hua-lei Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Mediating Effects ◽

Deterioration Effect ◽

Using Data ◽

Mental Health Effects ◽

The Impact

There is little empirical research on the effect of working after retirement on the mental health of the older adults in China. To fill this gap in the literature, this study examines the effects of working after retirement on the mental health of the older adults using data from the China Family Panel Studies. We employed the methods of ordinary least squares, ordered logit, and propensity score matching–difference in differences (PSM–DID). Results show that working after retirement is negatively related to mental health of the older adults in China. The deterioration effect of post-retirement work mainly impacts those aged over 60 years, women, and those with lower education background, urban household registration, higher pension, and higher social status. Working after retirement is negatively related to mental health through the mediating effects of deteriorating interpersonal relationships and lower positive attitude. It is necessary to consider mental health effects and their population differences to evaluate the impact and improve the quality of policies of active aging.

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Neighborhood Cohesion and the Mental Health of Multimorbid Older Adults: CLSA Path Analysis Through Loneliness

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.945 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 246-246

Author(s):

Daniel R Y Gan ◽

Andrew Wister ◽

John Best

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Social Environment ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Aging In Place ◽

Housing Quality ◽

Neighborhood Cohesion ◽

Intermediate Variables

Abstract More older adults with multimorbidity are aging in place than ever before. Their mental health may be affected by housing and neighborhood factors. In this paper, we use structural equation modelling (SEM) to examine how the physical environment influences life satisfaction and depressive symptoms in two separate models. We included social environment (i.e., social support, social participation, walking) and loneliness as intermediate variables. Data were drawn from baseline and the first follow-up (after 3-4 years) of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Participants were N=14,301 adults aged □65 with □2 chronic illnesses. Good model fit were found after controlling for age, sex, education and baseline values (TFI=1.00; CFI=1.00; RMSEA<0.001; SRMR<0.001). The total effects of housing quality (Btotal=0.08,-0.07) and neighborhood cohesion (Btotal=0.03,-0.06) were weak but statistically significant in the expected direction. Together, the intermediate variables explained 21-31% of the total effects of housing quality and 67-100% of the total effects of neighborhood cohesion. Loneliness explains 27-29% of the total effects of physical environment on mental health, whereas walking explained a mere 0.4-0.9% of their total effects. Walking did not mediate between housing quality and mental health outcomes. Overall, the results support our path analysis framework: physical environment -> social environment -> loneliness -> mental health. Our model provided excellent explanations of the effects of neighborhood cohesion, especially on life satisfaction. If these associations reflect causal effects, community-based age-friendly interventions should focus on neighborhood cohesion and loneliness to promote the well-being of older adults who are aging in place with multimorbidity.

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