Age-Friendly Regeneration of Historic Urban Districts: Psychological Pathways Linking Spatial Resources to Older Adults’ Walking

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Age-friendly regeneration of historic urban districts that focuses primarily on functional conditions such as streets, facilities, and accessibility may overlook place-based resources and experiences relevant to older adults’ everyday walking. Taking the Cuihu Historic and Cultural District in Kunming, China, as a case study, this study developed a Spatial Resource Index (SRI) comprising historical spatial resources, walking support resources, public cultural resources, and restorative environmental resources. GIS-based assessments of ten sub-zones were matched with questionnaire data from 316 older adults, and structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationships among spatial resources, place identity, social bonding, walking enjoyment, and walking behavior. The results revealed substantial spatial variation in resource provision across the sub-zones. Higher SRI levels were associated with stronger place identity and greater walking behavior, while two significant indirect associations linked the SRI to walking behavior through place identity–social bonding and place identity–walking enjoyment. These findings suggest that older adults’ walking in historic urban districts is related not only to functional walking conditions, but also to place meaning, social relationships, and positive experiences embedded in the environment. Age-friendly regeneration should therefore retain basic accessibility and walking support while incorporating historical, cultural, public life, and restorative resources into spatial assessment and planning, providing a more place-sensitive basis for historic urban regeneration oriented toward healthy aging.