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The importance of social environment for the mental health of older adults is gaining increasing attention, while the mediating role of social environment has not yet been thoroughly investigated.

Using point-of-interest (POI) data from Baidu and data on 20 communities in Guangzhou, China, which were collected through a questionnaire survey, this study employed a multi-level mediation model to investigate the relationship between the built environment and the mental health of older adults and to test the mediating effect of the social environment.

The findings indicated that park accessibility, as well as the distance to the nearest park are significantly positively correlated with the mental health of older adults, and the distance to the nearest public transit station is significantly negatively correlated. Social capital and community safety play significant mediating roles between the built environment and the mental health of older adults. Furthermore, the impact of built environment on mental health of older adults through the social environment, as well as the mediating pathways involved, exhibits significant differences across older adults with varying income levels.

This approach deepens the understanding of the pathways through which community environments impact the health of older adults in the Chinese context. The results provide a reference for policymakers and urban planners in planning healthy communities, age-friendly communities, and advancing an active aging society.