Multifaceted Evaluating Elderly Health Perceptions in Public Environments for Age-Friendly Urban Planning

The global surge in elderly populations necessitates a reevaluation of urban spaces to cater to their unique needs. This research aims to understand how individual characteristics of the elderly influence their perceptions and interactions with urban open spaces, focusing on mental, social, and physical health aspects. It employs a hybrid approach combining Dynamic Grey Relational Analysis (DGRA) and GM(1,N) grey models with traditional regression analysis, offering a novel perspective in gerontological urban studies. Data were collected from elderly residents in Shiraz, Iran, through a structured questionnaire and analyzed to identify critical urban space criteria and their correlation with individual characteristics. The findings indicate that living arrangements, education, and physical activities like walking and exercising are key factors shaping the elderly's perceptions. Living with family and higher education levels emerged as significant enhancers of psychological restoration, ease of access, and connection with the natural environment, while also playing a role in reducing stress and anxiety and enhancing social supervision. The GM(1,N) model's predictive accuracy provides a reliable tool for urban planners and policymakers to understand and cater to the diverse needs of the elderly. This study contributes to the urban planning and gerontology fields by offering a comprehensive analysis method and insightful findings for designing inclusive urban spaces that improve the quality of life for the elderly.全球老年人口的持续攀升亟需重新审视城市空间，以适配老年群体的独特需求。本研究旨在探究老年个体特征如何影响其对城市开放空间的感知与互动行为，重点聚焦心理健康、社交健康与身体健康三大维度。研究采用动态灰色关联分析（Dynamic Grey Relational Analysis, DGRA）与GM(1,N)灰色模型结合传统回归分析的混合研究范式，为老年学城市研究提供了全新视角。数据通过结构化问卷从伊朗设拉子的老年居民中收集所得，经分析明确了关键城市空间评价指标及其与个体特征的相关性。研究结果表明，居住安排、受教育程度以及步行、锻炼等体力活动是塑造老年群体感知的核心影响因素。与家人同住以及更高的受教育水平，可显著提升心理恢复效果、优化空间可达性体验、强化与自然环境的联结，同时有助于缓解压力与焦虑情绪，并增强社会监督效能。GM(1,N)模型的预测精度为城市规划者与政策制定者提供了可靠工具，使其能够充分理解并满足老年群体的多样化需求。本研究通过提出综合分析方法与富有洞见的研究发现，为设计可提升老年群体生活质量的包容性城市空间提供了参考，进而为城市规划与老年学领域的发展贡献了学术价值。