Environmental and capacity drivers of health function: a full perspective of the healthy aging framework

Objectives This paper explores how health capacity and environmental factors work together on health function among Chinese older adults. Methods A total of 2,788 Chinese older adults was randomly selected, with a valid response rate of 96.4% ( n = 2,688). Individual, family and social environments were assessed as mediators or moderators in the relationship between health capacity and health function. Structural equation models (SEM) were used to examine the pathways of determinants to health function. Results We found that an individual’s capacities and environmental factors had associations with health function in aging settings. Specifically, older adults who reported higher scores in health capacities, age-friendly family and social environment, and higher level of individual life expectation were more likely to experience higher level of health fucntion. Regarding the pathway to health function, age-friendly family (APGAR) and social environments acted as moderators in the relationship between health capacity and health function. The indirect way of health capacity (path coef. =0.269) is stronger than the direct way (path coef. =0.079). The role of social environment (path coef. =0.409) is the predominant in these pathways. Discussion This study suggests that both capacity and environmental factors are vital to maintain older adults’ health function. And the construction of an age-friendly environment, especially social environment, contributes a lot to healthy aging.