[Impact of out-of-home activities, neighborhood and urban-related identity on well-being in old age].
Z Gerontol Geriatr 2015;
48:401-7. [PMID:
26066027 DOI:
10.1007/s00391-015-0912-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Aging in a neighborhood environment is considered to be important for well-being particularly in very old age.
AIM
The project "This is my place" - On the importance of a place in the neighborhood for healthy aging (German acronym BEWOHNT) emphasises the role of out of home activities, neighborhood experiences and urban-related identity on well-being. The aim of this paper is to test the impact of person-environment exchange processes of "agency" (e.g., out-of-home activity) and "belonging" (e.g., urban related identity, social cohesion) on well-being (valuation of life) in addition to health effects
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data are based on domestic diaries, mobility diaries and a survey including 595 community-dwelling elderly people from 3 urban districts of Frankfurt (Germany) stratified by age (70-79 years vs. 80-89 years) and household situation (e.g. living alone versus living with partner).
RESULTS
The findings indicate substantial associations for "agency" and "belonging" indicators on well-being and differentiated effects for both age groups. Multigroup analyses show that particularly in very old age, out of home activities, social cohesion and urban-related identity considerably buffer the negative impacts of health on well-being.
CONCLUSION
The findings underline the need for an age-differentiated understanding of person-environment interchange processes in later life and in particular the importance of the neighborhood in very old age in this respect.
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