Residential environmental optimization adapted to the mental health of older adults:A conceptual model and research framework
The mental health status of urban older adults is closely related to the residential environment in which they live.The optimization of the residential environment to support the promotion of older adults'mental health contributes to the construction of age-friendly and healthy cities.In the previous literature on the association between the residential environment and the mental health of older adults,the influence factors of the residential environment were multidimensional,and the influence also showed heterogeneity in terms of culture and geography.Meanwhile,the association of the residential environment and the mental health of older adults also had a high degree of complexity,such as a non-linear association.The limitations of existing studies in terms of theoretical modeling,selection of indicators and analytical methods make it hard to identify the key factors,internal mechanisms and pathways through which the residential environment affects the mental health of older adults,thus restricting the proposal of planning adjustments and intervention strategies adapted to the mental health of older adults.In terms of theoretical modeling,taking the limitations of existing studies as an entry point,it constructed a conceptual model and research framework of residential environment and mental health of older adults.It attempted to integrate related theoretical systems and multi-path conceptual models,and to extract the mediating variables and pathways that reflect spatial fairness and psychosocial nature,including Capabilities,Self-efficacy and Environmental Perceptions.In terms of indicator selection,an indicator system adapted to the mental health of older adults was proposed from the built and natural environment dimensions.In the built environment dimension,based on the urban image theory and the findings of the previous literature,the built environment factors were divided into node,path and district levels,in order to incorporate the psychological factors of the residential environment as much as possible.In the natural environment dimension,the natural environment was divided into green space,blue space and blue-green integrated space,which involves both quantitative and qualitative dimensions by combining the attention recovery theory and stress relief theory.In terms of analytical methods,a multilevel model was used to distinguish the role of environmental characteristics and individual attributes on mental health.A nonlinear model was used to identify critical thresholds and effective intervals of the residential environment.A structural equation model was used to clarify the paths of influence,and qualitative comparative analysis was used to determine the optimal combination of strategies,and so on.As a result,the key factors,internal mechanisms and pathways of the residential environment are identified.Combined with quantitative measurement and health performance,the main types of measures and paths to achieve the adjustment and optimization of the mental health-friendly residential environment for older adults would be clarified.In terms of optimization measures,measures were proposed combining results of the theoretical model and research framework,with current norms in the planning field.Firstly,guidelines for optimizing the residential environment to enhance the mental health of older adults were identified.Secondly,the main types of optimization measures and planning strategies for specific impact pathways were identified.Meanwhile,in the process of planning and regulating the implementation,it is also necessary to determine the different levels of optimization,such as safeguarding and reforming,controlling and adjusting,and promoting optimization,taking into account the degree of difficulty of the actual optimization measures and the health performance.For future research,wearable devices and VR can be utilized to more accurately measure the environmental exposure of older adults.Biosensors,clinical diagnosis and follow-up questioning can be used to accurately measure various indicators of psychological functioning and mental health of older adults.The use of dynamic strategies to study real-time individual behavior and psychological interaction with the residential environment will be an important direction for future research.It's expected that it will provide a focus and direction for the planning and design of mental health-friendly environments for older adults,promote a new model of residential development under the concept of health,and provide theoretical support and a research paradigm for the practical cognition and design guidance of healthy aging.
residential environmentmental healtholder adultstheoretical modelindicator system
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