Perceived faith-oriented public-space environments, activity participation, and social connectedness among older adults in Quanzhou Ancient City.

Older adults' perceptions of urban public spaces are associated with their outdoor activities and social interactions, whereas locally embedded folk culture is associated with distinctive patterns of spatial engagement. In the context of historic city renewal, understanding how culturally embedded environments are associated with social connectedness among older adults is essential. This study examines how environmental perceptions of public spaces are associated with social connectedness among older adults and tests the indirect associations through activity participation. Using Licheng District of Quanzhou Ancient City as the study area, a structural equation model was developed to analyze the path relationships among five dimensions of environmental perception-activity-oriented, landscape-oriented, accessibility-oriented, communicative, and faith-oriented elements-activity participation, and social connectedness. Data were obtained from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in October 2020 and January 2024 (n = 620) and analyzed using structural equation modeling. After adjustment for gender, age, educational attainment, household composition, and religious affiliation, all five dimensions of environmental perception were positively associated with stronger social connectedness: activity-oriented (β = 0.100, p = 0.017), landscape-oriented (β = 0.157, p < 0.001), accessibility-oriented (β = 0.169, p < 0.001), communicative (β = 0.125, p = 0.001), and faith-oriented perception (β = 0.091, p = 0.022). Faith-based folk activities (β = 0.169), non-faith folk activities (β = 0.145), and non-folk activities (β = 0.180) were also positively associated with social connectedness (all p < 0.001). Bootstrap analyses identified activity-specific indirect associations between environmental perception and social connectedness. Given the repeated cross-sectional design, the findings indicate statistical associations rather than causal effects.