# Neighborhood cohesion’s role in supporting perceived mastery and quality of life in older adults

## TL;DR

Strong neighborhood connections help older adults feel more in control, improve their health, and increase life satisfaction.

## Contribution

This study identifies two mediation pathways linking neighborhood cohesion to life satisfaction in older adults.

## Key findings

- Higher neighborhood cohesion is significantly associated with greater perceived mastery and life satisfaction.
- Perceived mastery mediates the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and life satisfaction.
- Self-rated health also plays a secondary mediating role in this relationship.

## Abstract

Neighborhood cohesion has been linked to the health of older adults by influencing psychological and behavioral well-being. This study examines the role of neighborhood cohesion in older adults’ health, with a particular focus on its support for perceived mastery from a relational autonomy perspective. Specifically, it investigates whether perceived mastery and self-rated health mediate the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and life satisfaction in older adults. Using data from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (N = 2,279), we conducted multiple mediation analyses with PROCESS Macro Model 6 to assess the mediating roles of psychological and health-related factors in this relationship. The findings reveal that higher neighborhood social cohesion is significantly associated with greater perceived mastery (b = 0.104, p < .001), which, in turn, is linked to better self-rated health (b = 0.1172, p < .001) and higher life satisfaction (b = 0.3142, p < .001). The primary mediation pathway (Neighborhood Cohesion → Perceived Mastery → Life Satisfaction) shows a significant indirect effect (b = 0.0327, 95% CI [0.0187, 0.0478]). Additionally, a secondary but significant mediation pathway (Neighborhood Cohesion → Perceived Mastery → Self-Rated Health → Life Satisfaction) further contributes to the overall effect (b = 0.0022, 95% CI [0.0011, 0.0037]). The total indirect effect of neighborhood cohesion on life satisfaction is also significant (b = 0.0403, 95% CI [0.0248, 0.0569]). These results highlight the importance of fostering socially cohesive neighborhoods to enhance psychological resilience, health, and overall life satisfaction among older adults.

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12760883