Exploring the mediating role of social environment in the relationship between built environment and mental health of older adults-evidence from Guangzhou, China.

Park accessibility is significantly positively correlated with the mental health of older adults.

• Data were collected from 20 communities in Guangzhou, China through questionnaire survey
• Point-of-interest (POI) data from Baidu were used to measure built environment features
• A multi-level mediation model was employed to investigate the relationship
• Park accessibility was identified as a significant built environment predictor of older adult mental health

Distance to the nearest park is significantly positively correlated with the mental health of older adults.

• Measured using POI data from Baidu Maps for 20 communities in Guangzhou
• The direction of the relationship indicates that proximity to parks (shorter distance) is associated with better mental health
• This finding was identified within a multi-level mediation framework
• Both park accessibility and distance to nearest park were examined as distinct built environment variables

Distance to the nearest public transit station is significantly negatively correlated with the mental health of older adults.

• Greater distance to public transit was associated with worse mental health outcomes
• Transit station distance was measured using POI data from Baidu for 20 communities
• The finding was derived from a multi-level mediation model
• Public transit accessibility emerged as a significant built environment factor alongside park-related variables

Social capital plays a significant mediating role between the built environment and the mental health of older adults.

• The mediation was tested using a multi-level mediation model
• Social environment variables including social capital were measured through questionnaire survey across 20 communities in Guangzhou
• Social capital was identified as one of two significant mediating social environment factors
• The mediating pathway through social capital was part of the mechanism linking community built environment to older adult mental health

Community safety plays a significant mediating role between the built environment and the mental health of older adults.

• Community safety was measured through questionnaire survey data from 20 communities in Guangzhou
• Community safety was identified alongside social capital as a significant mediator in the built environment–mental health relationship
• The multi-level mediation model was used to test these mediating effects
• Community safety represents a distinct social environment pathway through which built environment affects mental health

The impact of built environment on older adult mental health through the social environment exhibits significant differences across older adults with varying income levels.

• Income level was examined as a moderating variable of the mediation pathways
• Both the overall impact of built environment on mental health through social environment and the specific mediating pathways differed by income group
• The income-based differences were identified within the multi-level mediation framework applied to data from 20 Guangzhou communities
• This finding suggests that the social environment mediation pathways are not uniform across socioeconomic subgroups of older adults