Examining the Impact of Public Urban Spaces on the Mental and Social Health of Older Adults

This study explores how older adults perceive urban open spaces and how these perceptions relate to mental, physical, and social well-being, shaped by contextual personal characteristics such as education level, living arrangements, frequency of visits, and physical activity. Using an innovative hybrid methodology combining regression analysis, Dynamic Grey Relational Analysis (DGRA), and the GM(1,N) grey model, the study analyzes data from 180 older adults over the age of 65 living in Shiraz, Iran.

The results highlight five key urban space criteria that most strongly influence elderly health perceptions: psychological restoration, ease of access, connection to nature, stress and anxiety reduction, and social supervision. Individuals living with family, with higher education, and those engaged in regular walking or leisure activities exhibited more positive health-related spatial perceptions. The grey system models further revealed that these personal characteristics not only correlate with subjective experiences but can reliably predict spatial preferences and health outcomes.