Neighborhood Effects on the Health of Elderly Persons: Evidence from China

Abstract

Abstract Background Presently, global aging has become increasingly serious, whereas the health concerns brought by aging have become a public issue that warrants an urgent solution from all countries across the world. Therefore, this research paper discusses the influence of neighborhood health on elderly individuals' health, and extending a realistic basis for the other economies to improve the neighborhood environment and promote the health of the elderly. Methods Based on the data of CHARLS2018, this research paper adopts the samples that fulfill the study requirements (N = 7326). we constructed a comprehensive research framework integrating ordinary least square (OLS) regression, heterogeneity analysis, IV-2SLS, robustness testing, Furthermore, the KHB decomposition method is implemented to ascertain the influential mechanism of NMH and NPH on the mental- and physical health of elderly persons. Results The OLS regression analysis indicates that NMH 0.241 and NPH 0.294 exert positive influences on the elderly’s mental- and physical health. Meanwhile, the effects of IV-2SLS on NPH and NMH stand at 0.346 and 0.207, which are different from the OLS regression results; thereby, indicating the existence of endogeneity. Afterward, KHB mediating effect confirms that Internet use, gift reciprocity, and charity activity contribute 13.48% and 28.16% to physical- and mental health, respectively. Conclusions Firstly, the NPH and NMH demonstrate a positive influence on the physical and mental health of the elder population. However, there exist heterogeneous differences. Secondly, the IV-2SLS model deals with the endogeneity of NPH and NMH. Thirdly, social integration, social interaction, and social engagement serve as significant transmission mechanisms for the influences of NMH and NPH on the health of elderly persons.