[Impact of out-of-home activities, neighborhood and urban-related identity on well-being in old age].

BACKGROUND

Aging in a neighborhood environment is considered to be important for well-being particularly in very old age.

AIM: The project "This is my place" - On the importance of a place in the neighborhood for healthy aging (German acronym BEWOHNT) emphasises the role of out of home activities, neighborhood experiences and urban-related identity on well-being. The aim of this paper is to test the impact of person-environment exchange processes of "agency" (e.g., out-of-home activity) and "belonging" (e.g., urban related identity, social cohesion) on well-being (valuation of life) in addition to health effects

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Data are based on domestic diaries, mobility diaries and a survey including 595 community-dwelling elderly people from 3 urban districts of Frankfurt (Germany) stratified by age (70-79 years vs. 80-89 years) and household situation (e.g. living alone versus living with partner).

RESULTS

The findings indicate substantial associations for "agency" and "belonging" indicators on well-being and differentiated effects for both age groups. Multigroup analyses show that particularly in very old age, out of home activities, social cohesion and urban-related identity considerably buffer the negative impacts of health on well-being.

CONCLUSION

The findings underline the need for an age-differentiated understanding of person-environment interchange processes in later life and in particular the importance of the neighborhood in very old age in this respect.