| Keywords |
Urban parks; PHQ-9; Happiness; EQ-5D; Older adults |
| Abstract |
This study examined the mediating effect of depression(PHQ-9) between district-level urban park infrastructure and happiness and health-related quality of life(EQ-5D) among older adults aged 65 years and older in Seoul, South Korea (N = 4,470; 25 administrative districts), while investigating structural spatial inequality across districts. This cross-sectional secondary data analysis combined raw data from the 2022 Seoul Community Health Survey with public data from the Seoul Open Data Plaza (2022). Baron and Kenny’s four-step hierarchical regression and Sobel test were applied. Model 1 controlled for individual-level covariates; Model 2 additionally controlled for district-level covariates. Districts with higher aging rates had significantly fewer parks (r = ?.40, p < .001), indicating structural spatial inequality. PHQ-9 was negatively correlated with both happiness (r = ?.39, p < .001) and EQ-5D (r = ?.51, p < .001), supporting its role as a mediator. PHQ-9 fully mediated the relationship between urban park count and both happiness and EQ-5D (Model 1: Z = ?2.35, p = .019; Model 2: Z = ?2.14, p = .032~.033), remaining robust across both models. Based on these findings, urban parks may serve as a key environmental resource associated with happiness and quality of life in older adults via depression reduction. These findings suggest prioritizing park expansion in districts with large older populations and using urban parks as a strategic public health resource for depression prevention. |