Urban-suburban differences in the predictors of morale among the aged

Research on the habitability of the city for older people and research on the predictors of well-being have led to the search for patterns of adaptation which distinguish the urban elderly adults from their non-urban counterparts. This study compares neighborhood perceptions and use and social network involvement in an urban and suburban sample of older people. Differences in patterns of adaptation characteristic of urban and suburban elderly adults were sought by comparing the ability of neighborhood and social network factors to predict morale in each sample. Results revealed differences in urban and suburban elderly adults' perceptions and use of neighborhood facilities. Urban older people reported more frequent interactions with friends, greater dissatisfaction with friendships and greater organizational participation. Informal social relationships were related to elderly urbanites' morale but had practically no bearing on suburbanites' morale. Differences in cultural heterogeneity and environmental demand seem to provide the best explanation for the findings.