School of Geographic and Biologic Information, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Dec 6;19(23):16342. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192316342.
Blue spaces is associated with self-rated health (SRH), but little is known about the pathways underlying this association among Chinese urban elderly individuals. Based on neighborhood effect theory, this study examined the relationship between neighborhood blue spaces and SRH among elderly individuals using data from a questionnaire survey conducted in Guangzhou, remote sensing images, street views, and environmental information in the context of a Chinese megacity. In addition, multilevel linear model and mediating effect model empirical analyses were performed. Results showed that first, the SRH of the elderly was associated with individual- and neighborhood-level factors. Second, the multilevel mediation model revealed that multiple biopsychosocial pathways existed between neighborhood blue spaces and the SRH of the elderly, specifically, the blue space characteristics related to the SRH of the elderly via the mediating effect of stress. Third, owing to demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status, the stratified analyses also indicated a strong association between neighborhood blue spaces and SRH outcomes in the older and low-income groups. The mediating effect of stress in the age and income groups was also observed, and the mediation pathways and group differences were confirmed in the context of Chinese cities. This research enriches the empirical literature on blue spaces and elderly health from a multidisciplinary perspective and suggests the need for "healthy neighborhood" and "health-aging" planning in Chinese settings.
蓝色空间与自评健康（SRH）有关，但对于中国城市老年人中这种关联的潜在机制知之甚少。基于邻里效应理论，本研究利用来自中国特大城市广州市的问卷调查、遥感图像、街景和环境信息数据，检验了邻里蓝色空间与老年人 SRH 之间的关系。此外，还进行了多层次线性模型和中介效应模型的实证分析。结果表明：第一，老年人的 SRH 与个体和邻里层面的因素有关。第二，多层次中介模型揭示了邻里蓝色空间与老年人 SRH 之间存在多种生物心理社会途径，具体来说，蓝色空间特征通过压力的中介效应对老年人的 SRH 产生影响。第三，由于人口统计学特征和社会经济地位的不同，分层分析还表明，在老年人和低收入群体中，邻里蓝色空间与 SRH 结果之间存在很强的关联。在年龄和收入组中也观察到了压力的中介效应，并且在城市背景下验证了中介途径和群体差异。本研究从多学科角度丰富了蓝色空间与老年人健康的实证文献，并表明在中国式的“健康邻里”和“健康老龄化”规划中需要加以考虑。
