Built and Social Environment and Mental Health of Older Adults at The Neighborhood Scale, Case Study: Qazvin City

 In the last decade, public health planners have faced challenges related to the aging rate and the increase in mental health disorders. Research has shown that mental health issues are prevalent among older adults in Qazvin, but there hasn't been a comprehensive study on the impact of the social and built environment on mental health. Therefore, this research aims to identify the physical and social environment characteristics that can influence mental health.

This study is a cross-sectional quantitative research utilizing common mental health assessment tools, such as HADS and PSS, to gather data from 361 Qazvin's historical context residents. Additionally, an environmental quality questionnaire was used to collect information on the physical and social environment of the neighborhood. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS-25 software and the hierarchical regression method.

The data analysis revealed that individual, place, and socio-cultural factors played a significant role in determining the mental health of older adults in Qazvin City. The individual factors that affected mental health included age, gender, home ownership status, and marital status. The place factors that influenced mental health included satisfaction with the place, land use, quality of residence, security, walkability, and access to green spaces. The socio-cultural dimension also played a role in mental health, as factors such as social support and cultural activities impacted the well-being of older adults. The results of this study can help in planning and designing neighborhoods in a historical context to improve mental health.