Associations between neighbourhood age-friendliness and social networks among older adults: results from the Ageing Well Berlin cohort

Social isolation among older adults is a significant global public health challenge, particularly in increasingly ageing urban populations. Creating age-friendly environments that promote social integration may offer an approach to addressing social isolation. However, despite this potential, few studies have investigated the association between neighbourhood age-friendliness and social networks among older adults. Using cross-sectional data from participants aged 65 and older of the X study (study name anonymised for review) collected in three neighbourhoods in Berlin, Germany, between December 2023 and July 2025, this study examined the association between perceived neighbourhood age-friendliness and social networks. Linear regression analyses (n = 745) found that higher perceived age-friendliness was associated with stronger social networks (β = 2.39, CI 1.57 – 3.20), independent of age, gender, living arrangements, number of children, physical limitations, subjective socioeconomic status and district of residence. Exploratory analysis (n = 499) of individual age-friendliness domains from the WHO Age-friendly Cities Framework suggested that transportation (β = 0.86, CI 0.18 – 1.54) as well as social (β = 1.10, CI 0.36 – 1.84) and civic participation (β = 0.71, CI 0.25 – 1.17) were positively associated with social networks, whereas housing was negatively associated (β = -0.80, CI -1.43 – -0.17). In addition, older age, male gender, living alone, shorter residence duration in current housing, lower subjective socioeconomic status and having fewer or no children were linked to weaker social networks. These findings indicate that age-friendly neighbourhood environments may support social contact in later life and highlight the potential of neighbourhood-level interventions to mitigate social isolation, particularly among socially and economically vulnerable older adults.