Linking Older Adults' Psychosocial Well-Being With Objective and Perceived Environments in Slovenia

Background: Europe's aging population faces resource loss, loneliness, and social isolation, making psychosocial well-being a priority. A well-designed environment can help compensate for lost resources, while poor design may harm health, highlighting environmental quality as key to successful aging. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the link between psychosocial well-being, and the built environment. Method: Participants from three retirement homes in Slovenia filled in the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index, the Brief Sense of Community, the Lubben Social Network Scale, the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale, and the short version of the Social Production Function Instrument with the assistance of a researcher. Additionally, the built environment was objectively assessed using the EVOLVE tool and subjectively assessed by participants using a custom scale. Structural equation modeling was used to examine paths between the environment and wellbeing. Results: The findings showed a statistically significant indirect effect of well-being on the perceived environment, while no indirect effects were found between the objective and perceived environment or well-being. However, specific objectively measured environmental factors, such as acceptability, features for sensory and dementia support, and perceived accessibility and aesthetic environmental attributes significantly affect well-being. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to prioritize well-being in urban planning for aging populations. Beyond basic needs like safety, high-level needs like aesthetics, sensory support, and accessibility should be emphasized. Enhancing well-being through these factors may be effective when designing or modifying physical environments. Accessible, sensory-friendly, and dementia-supportive designs can further support healthy aging.