Urban-greenway factors’ influence on older adults’ psychological well-being: A case study of Taichung, Taiwan

Abstract

In Taiwan, about 80 % of the population lives in urban areas, and as the number of older adults inches toward 20 % of the total population by 2026, Taiwan is expected to become a super-aged society. Because urban green spaces are critical for maintaining older adults’ physio-psychological health, maintenance of these spaces can assist the aging-in-place process. Urban greenways not only provide physical environments that support leisure activities, but also create a social environment in which older adults can develop place attachment. These areas improve older adults’ psychological well-being. By contrast, urban environmental stressors (e.g., noise and air pollution) may affect older residents’ well-being negatively. Therefore, this study developed a structural equation model to examine the relationship between physical environment and well-being from urban greenways in Taichung, and it examined how local older residents’ place attachment and perceived environmental stressors influence this relationship. Our dataset included 13 greenways and 769 participants older than 55 living in the vicinity of these greenways. The results indicate that participants perceive lower levels of environmental stress when their local greenway quality is better, enhancing levels of well-being and place attachment, as reported by older adult residents. Since urban greenways are linear public spaces adjacent to roads, greenway designers and planners should place more emphasis on environmental quality to help create high-quality and easy-to-maintain public spaces where older adults can enjoy the outdoors and improve their well-being without worrying about environmental stressors.