Articles
Designing age-friendly landscapes: a review of insights from walkability and elderly depression research
Article number
1455_11
Pages
91 – 100
Language
English
Abstract
With accelerating global population aging, depression among older adults has become a critical public health concern.
As physical capabilities decline and social networks shrink, older adults increasingly rely on the accessibility and convenience of their residential environments.
Walkability is recognized as an important factor influencing mental health in this population.
This review synthesizes empirical studies from the past decade on the relationship between walkability and depression in older adults, focusing on three categories of indicators and their mechanisms: 1) functional indicators (e.g., land-use mix, service accessibility, road connectivity): accessibility to specific services, such as parks and recreational facilities, is generally associated with lower depression risk; whereas, land-use mix and road connectivity show inconsistent effects across different urban and cultural contexts; 2) experiential indicators (e.g., green exposure, micro-scale design): green coverage and high-quality pedestrian infrastructure typically provide stable protective effects on mental health and can improve functional capacity; 3) subjective perceptions (e.g., perceived safety, neighborhood belonging, and other related aspects): positive environmental perceptions are significantly associated with lower depression levels, and their effects remain robust under the moderation of gender, socioeconomic status, urban context, climate, and season.
The review indicates that experiential indicators and subjective perceptions are more consistent and reliable predictors of depression risk in older adults than functional indicators.
Future urban planning and landscape design should optimize older adults’ daily mobility while prioritizing experience-related environmental features, such as greenery, micro-scale design, and spaces that promote social interaction, to support their mental well-being.
As physical capabilities decline and social networks shrink, older adults increasingly rely on the accessibility and convenience of their residential environments.
Walkability is recognized as an important factor influencing mental health in this population.
This review synthesizes empirical studies from the past decade on the relationship between walkability and depression in older adults, focusing on three categories of indicators and their mechanisms: 1) functional indicators (e.g., land-use mix, service accessibility, road connectivity): accessibility to specific services, such as parks and recreational facilities, is generally associated with lower depression risk; whereas, land-use mix and road connectivity show inconsistent effects across different urban and cultural contexts; 2) experiential indicators (e.g., green exposure, micro-scale design): green coverage and high-quality pedestrian infrastructure typically provide stable protective effects on mental health and can improve functional capacity; 3) subjective perceptions (e.g., perceived safety, neighborhood belonging, and other related aspects): positive environmental perceptions are significantly associated with lower depression levels, and their effects remain robust under the moderation of gender, socioeconomic status, urban context, climate, and season.
The review indicates that experiential indicators and subjective perceptions are more consistent and reliable predictors of depression risk in older adults than functional indicators.
Future urban planning and landscape design should optimize older adults’ daily mobility while prioritizing experience-related environmental features, such as greenery, micro-scale design, and spaces that promote social interaction, to support their mental well-being.
Authors
B.Y. Chen, P. Suppakittpaisarn
Keywords
age-friendly landscape, walkability, elderly depression, built environment
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