Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39948532›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Living and neighborhood environments and anxiety symptoms among older adults in Anhui, China: evidence from a cross-sectional study.

Jingya Zhang, Chen Dai, Qing Wang, Wenzheng Zhao, Guodong Shen, Jing Cheng, Ren Chen, Yan Zhang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jingya Zhang *Department of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China.
Chen Dai *Department of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China.
Qing Wang *Department of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China.
Wenzheng ZhaoDepartment of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China.
Guodong ShenAnhui Province Key Laboratory of Geriatric Immunology and Nutrition Therapy, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China.
Jing ChengDepartment of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China. chengjing@ahmu.edu.cn.
Ren ChenDepartment of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China. chenren@ahmu.edu.cn.
Yan ZhangDepartment of Health Service Management, School of Health Service Management, Anhui Medical University, 81-Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P. R. China. zhangymail@ahmu.edu.cn.

Funding

The National Natural Science Foundation of China 72004003the Natural Science Research Project of Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province 2024AH050708the Scientific Research Projects for Higher Education of Anhui Province 2023AH010036
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study aims to investigate the relationships between living and neighborhood environmental factors and anxiety symptoms among older adults residing in urban and rural areas of Anhui Province, China.

methodsData were collected from 5876 participants in a cross-sectional study carried out in four cities located in Anhui, China. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated via the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and participants with scores of 5 and above were defined as having anxiety symptoms. The presence of dust and noise in the context of daily life was used to evaluate the living environment of the participants. The neighborhood environment was assessed by the availability of barrier-free facilities, proximity to facilities (supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, and parks), and green and blue space near participants' dwellings. Multilevel linear and logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between these environmental factors and anxiety symptoms.

resultsThe participants who lived in dusty environments had elevated GAD-7 scores and higher odds of anxiety (dust: β = 0.754, 95% CI: 0.337, 1.171; OR = 1.451, 95% CI: 1.164, 1.809). Having barrier-free facilities and the existence of a neighboring park decreased the GAD-7 scores and the likelihood of having anxiety symptoms (barrier-free facilities: β=-0.503, 95% CI: -0.992, -0.085; OR = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.656, 0.899; park: β=-0.478, 95% CI: -0.830, -0.125; OR = 0.599, 95% CI: 0.440, 0.816). However, participants residing in close proximity to the hospital presented an increased likelihood of experiencing anxiety symptoms (OR = 1.377, 95% CI: 1.162, 1.631).

conclusionsParticipants who lived in dusty and noisy environments were more likely to suffer from anxiety, whereas those who lived near barrier-free facilities and parks were at lower risk. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to create age-friendly communities, suggesting an integrated approach that combines environmental health strategies with mental health strategies for older adults.

Indexed as

AnxietyNeighborhood CharacteristicsResidence CharacteristicsAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnxiety symptomsEnvironmentOlder adults

Identifiers

PMID39948532
PMCPMC11827291

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.