Community Environment Co-Production and Environmental Satisfaction of Older Urban Residents in Shanghai, China.

Abstract

Many factors may affect the environmental satisfaction of elderly people, including their sense of involvement. This study examined the associations between community environment co-production and environmental satisfaction in older urban residents in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four age-friendly communities in Shanghai, China. Co-production and environmental satisfaction were assessed through a self-developed questionnaire. General health status was measured through the EuroQol-Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Data on affective commitment for the community demographic and health-related factors were also collected. Multilevel linear regression was used to detect the associations. In total, 480 older urban residents completed the survey. On average, the environment satisfaction score was 76.82/90, 8/10 for co-production, and 87.5/100 for EQ-VAS. Univariate analysis demonstrated environmental satisfaction was associated with educational background, party membership, physical activity, community location, age, sleep hours, co-production, affective commitment, and EQ-VAS. After controlling for confounding factors, the co-production score was significantly associated with higher environmental satisfaction (β = 4.68, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression revealed that effective commitment for the community (β = 6.17, p < 0.001) and EQ-VAS (β = 0.06, p = 0.002) were also significantly associated with environment satisfaction. Community environment co-production was positively associated with environmental satisfaction among older urban residents in Shanghai. Environmental co-production should be encouraged when developing age-friendly communities for the elderly.