The Impact of Community Environment on Depression Among Elderly Residents: A Perspective from the “Environment-Psychology-Culture” Co-evolution Model

Abstract Contrary to much of the existing research on elderly depression that primarily focuses on individual psychology while overlooking the interplay of natural environment and sociocultural factors, this study innovatively integrates the research subject into the "Environment-Psychology-Culture"co-evolution model(EPCCM),seeking a comprehensive understanding of how natural environments and social cultures intersectionally influence depression in elderly individuals.Leveraging questionnaire data from 34 communities in Shanghai, alongside remote sensing and urban POI data, this study employs a multi-level model to decompose the community environment into several endogenous variables, and examine the relationships among community environment, residential satisfaction and elderly depression, and quantifying the varying effects of the community environment on psychological health across different social groups.The study reveals that:① The community environment comprises three endogenous variables: environmental perception, neighborhood effects, and built environment; ②A significant correlation exists between the community environment and the depression levels of elderly residents(DLER), with residential satisfaction serving as a mitigating factor for DLER; ③The impact of the community environment on psychological health significantly varies across different income and residential groups.This study strives to contribute to empirical research on community environments and mental health from an environmental psychology perspective, providing a scientific foundation for enhancing the mental health of elderly residents and fostering healthier communities.