Correlation analysis of the urban community environment and health promotion among adults aged ≥ 55 years: the mediating role of physical activity

BackgroundPhysical health (PH), including muscle strength, endurance, and the ability to perform daily physical tasks, gradually declines with increasing age, leading to disability and an increased disease burden. Both the urban community environment (UCE) and physical activity (PA) were linked to PH.MethodsA total of 625 participants aged 55 years and older from Haidian and Chaoyang Districts in Beijing, China, were included in the study from September to December 2023.PH was assessed by a combined score of four tests, including BMI, chronic disease, depression and self-rated health.The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated (NEWS-A), Center for Epidemiological Survey-Depression Scale (CES-D), Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE) and Social Support Rate Score (SSRS) were collected. The analysis was carried out with SPSS v.20 and Amos 24, and the results were validated via structural equation modeling (SEM).ResultsThe urban community environment was positively associated with the health level of older adults. Specifically, the standardized path coefficients indicate that the influence of the built environment (0.72-0.88) was greater than that of the social environment (0.43-0.55) and personal attributes (0.22-0.37) on older adults' health. Physical activity demonstrated both a mediating effect and an indirect effect, highlighting its significant value as a mediating variable.ConclusionsThe urban community environment has a positive impact on promoting the physical health of older adults, with the influence of the built environment being greater than that of the social environment and personal attributes on their physical health. Physical activity acts as a mediator between the urban community environment and the physical health of older adults.