An ecological model of mental health among small-town rural elderly

The present study models the impact of three domains of environmental variables (ecological/architectural, psychosocial, and personal) on the mental health and well-being of 989 community-based rural elderly (65 years or older) in 18 small Kansas towns. Utilizing standard structured interview data, we employed a holdout sample strategy to test a path model that posited three psychosocial variables as partially mediating the predictive relations of two ecological/architectural and three personal variables with mental health. Results of tests of the model confirmed the statistical reliability (p less than .05) of all relations posited for mental health, with perceived environmental constriction, satisfaction with dwelling features, and satisfaction with community serving as the largest predictors. Results showed the decreasing predictive efficacy of the model for other dimensions of well-being (activity, security, contact with friends, contact with relatives). Strengths and weaknesses of the model relevant to conceptual, emphirical, and interventive pursuits are discussed.