Longitudinal Associations Between Neighborhood Environments and Functional Disabilities among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China

Jia-Jia Zhou; Shuai Zhou; Xinxin Cai; Jiemei Luo

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbae206

Longitudinal Associations Between Neighborhood Environments and Functional Disabilities among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in China

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2025 Jan 15:gbae206. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbae206. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jia-Jia Zhou¹, Shuai Zhou², Xinxin Cai¹, Jiemei Luo³

Affiliations

¹ Research Centre for Gerontology and Family Studies, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
² Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
³ Department of urban and rural planning, Shenzhen International School of Design, Harbin Institute of Technology. Shenzhen, China.

PMID: 39812409
DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae206

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the longitudinal associations between neighborhood environments and functional disabilities over time among older adults in China. Urban-rural disparities in these associations were examined in this study.

Methods: Data from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018) were analyzed, including a sample of 5,379 older adults aged 60 and over. Multilevel linear probability modeling was fitted to estimate the effects of neighborhood environments on functional disabilities, encompassing both incidence and rate of change over a 7-year period.

Results: Older adults residing in neighborhoods with superior infrastructure experienced a lower incidence of functional disabilities in both rural and urban areas. In urban communities, increased handicapped access was associated with a reduced risk of IADL disability onset among older adults (B = -0.013, SE = 0.006, p < 0.05). In rural villages, the presence of two or more bus lines was associated with a slower rate of IADL disablement over the 7-year period (B = -0.019, SE = 0.009, p < 0.05).

Discussion: This research reveals the prominent roles of neighborhood environments in protecting functional abilities among older adults. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating community policies and infrastructure development into public health considerations. Empirical evidence is provided for policymakers and urban planners aimed at enhancing functional abilities in older adults and mitigating urban-rural disparities in health outcomes.

Keywords: Basic infrastructure; Environmental gerontology; Functional impairment; Multilevel modeling; Urban-rural differences.

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