Social capital, perceived neighborhood environment, and depressive symptoms among older adults in rural China: the role of self-rated health

The Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Psychological Health Among Older Adults in Ghana

This study examines the effects of various factors, including socioeconomic status, built environment, access to healthcare, educational level, social participation, and economic stability, on older adults' psychological health. The current study analyzed a nationally representative sub-sample of 2,577 respondents aged 50 and above from the World Health Organization's Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (WHO SAGE) Wave 2. WHO SAGE Wave 2 is cross-sectional data collected via in-person structured interviews. Ordinal least square (OLS) was used to measure the average effect of social determinants of health (SDoH), and quantile regression analysis was used to determine the effects of SDoH on older adults' psychological health at different quantiles, specifically 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles. Significant determinants of psychological health across all quantiles included age, healthcare access, marital status, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. However, the degrees of significance for residence, gender, educational level, chronic diseases, and social participation varied between quantiles, showing differing effects on older adults with high or low psychological health. Religion was insignificant across all quantiles. This study highlights the need for governments and public health agencies to develop targeted interventions and strategies that support the psychological well-being of older adults in the country.

Individual-level community-based social capital and depressive symptoms among older adults in urban China: the moderating effects of socioeconomic status

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine the moderating role of socioeconomic status in the association between community-based social capital-based on individual-level cognitive and structural social capital-and depressive symptoms among older adults in urban China.

METHODS

Data were collected in 2020 through a community survey of 800 respondents aged 60 years and older living in Shijiazhuang and Tianjin. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multiple-group analyses were conducted to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Measurement models of cognitive social capital and structural social capital were established. Measurement invariance was established across different socioeconomic groups. Additionally, socioeconomic status significantly moderated the association between social capital and depressive symptoms. The association between cognitive social capital and depressive symptoms was statistically significant among respondents with relatively low incomes and high levels of education, whereas the association between structural social capital and depressive symptoms was significant only among those with relatively high incomes.

CONCLUSION

Future social capital policies and interventions should adopt different strategies to provide services to older adults from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Furthermore, educational programs should promote the effects of cognitive social capital on depressive symptoms later in life.

1 km of living area: age differences in the association between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health among Chinese people

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the age differences in the relationship between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health among Chinese people.

STUDY DESIGN

This is cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The participants were 2,631 residents aged 18 and above from 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). Self-rated health was reported by residents. Neighborhood environment was measured by respondents' subjective perception of 1 km living area. Ordered logit regression models were used to examine the relationship between neighborhood environment perception and self-rated health.

RESULTS

In summary, 42.08% were classified as young adults, and 57.92% were classified as middle-aged and older adults. Young adults with higher perception of neighborhood social environment were more likely to perceive good health. Neighborhood built environment was significantly associated with self-rated health among middle-aged and older adults.

CONCLUSION

The neighborhood environment is an important predictor of the health of its residents. Neighborhood environmental modifications should be tailored to meet the needs of different age groups, promoting health equity.

Aging in place in rural Northeast China: a mixed methods examination of the influence of social capital on mental well-being in middle and late adulthood

The rural development strategy in contemporary China has evolved from focusing solely on "absolute poverty alleviation" to addressing multiple dimensions, including "targeting relative poverty and revitalizing the entire rural area." Using a mixed-methods approach, our study aimed to examine whether and how social capital, particularly social support and social trust, influences the mental well-being of middle-aged and older people aging in place in a remote rural Northeast area of China, exploring three constructs: life purpose, self-actualization, and capability. Our quantitative findings revealed that higher levels of social support and social trust were positively related to higher levels of life purpose. Increased social support was positively related to increased life purpose through increased social trust. However, the associations between social support, social trust, and the constructs of self-actualization and capability were not substantiated after controlling for covariates. Our interview data illuminated how middle-aged and older people perceived the interplay between social support, social trust, and mental well-being.

Effects of social capital on healthcare utilization among older adults in Indonesia

Social capital potentially affects older adults' access to healthcare services. However, the effects of social capital on the use of various types of healthcare services using longitudinal data have yet to be explored. This study aimed to examine the effects of structural and cognitive social capital on different types of healthcare utilization by older adults in Indonesia. Data were from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (waves 4 and 5) in 2007 and 2014. The sample consisted of participants aged 60 years and older who completed both waves (n = 1374). Healthcare utilization by older adults assessed health posts (posyandu), health checkups, outpatient care and hospital admissions. Social capital consisted of neighborhood trust and community participation. Generalized estimating equation models were used for the analysis. Older adults with high community participation had a higher likelihood of using preventive care in posyandu (OR = 5.848, 95% CI = 2.585-13.232) and health checkup visits (OR = 1.621, 95% CI = 1.116-2.356). Meanwhile, neighborhood trust was related to a higher probability of hospital admissions (OR = 1.255, 95% CI = 1.046-1.505). Social capital significantly affects older adults' preventive and treatment healthcare utilization. Maximizing the availability of social participation and removing barriers to access to preventive and medical care in an age-friendly environment are suggested.

How does neighbourhood environment influence loneliness in later life in Urban China? The role of financial status

This study aimed to examine whether older adults' financial status moderated the association between neighbourhood environment (i.e. physical and social environment) and loneliness among older adults in urban China. A cross-sectional survey was collected from urban communities of Shanghai in mid-2020. The final analytic sample was 459 older adults (age range = 60-91 years; proportion of women: 55.8%). Multiple group analysis was applied to test the hypothesised model. A measurement model of community social capital (i.e. cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital), a crucial indicator of neighbourhood social environment, was first established in both high-income and low-income groups. Factor loading invariance was established in these two groups. The results show that structural social capital (i.e. organisation memberships, volunteering, social participation and citizenship activities) was negatively associated with loneliness among older respondents from the high-income group only, whereas better community security was significantly associated with lower levels of loneliness among low-income older respondents only. The findings imply that both structural social capital and household income should be considered as important indicators in needs assessment among lonely older adults. Future social policies and interventions should pay attention to enhancing the role of both social and physical neighbourhood environment among older adults.