Multisystem Influences on Mental Health Risk Among Urban Older Adults: An Ecological Systems Theory Perspective

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Public Health
• Environmental Psychology
• Sociology of Aging

Background:

• Rapid population aging in China highlights the growing public health concern of mental health risk among urban older adults.
• Previous research often examined single factors, lacking an integrated, multi-level analysis of determinants within a unified theoretical framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the associations between ecological system factors and mental health risk in urban older adults.
• To apply Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to understand multi-level influences on mental health.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2020 China Longitudinal Aging Social Survey (CLASS).
• Employed ordered logistic regression, stepwise cumulative regression, and bootstrap mediation analysis within an ecological framework (micro to chrono-systems).
• Assessed social support, activity participation, community/institutional environments, and risk events as predictors.

Main Results:

• Higher social support and activity participation correlated with increased mental health risk.
• Better community and institutional environments were linked to lower risk; risk events significantly increased risk.
• Activity participation showed an indirect association with risk via risk events; community environment effects were mediated by risk events.

Conclusions:

• Mental health risk in urban older adults is significantly associated with multi-level ecological factors.
• Policy recommendations include enhancing support quality, community/institutional services, and implementing stratified interventions.
• Findings represent associations, not causal relationships, due to the cross-sectional design.