Study on Impact Mechanisms of Resident Adaptability in Old Communities Based on Complex Adaptive System Theory: Theoretical Construction and Empirical Analysis of Xuzhou City Center

Confronted with both internal environmental degradation and external economic transformation, the internal environment of old residential communities has become increasingly complex. Enhancing resident adaptability is crucial for communities to address multiple urban crises and align with community development and evolution. Complex Adaptive System (CAS) theory provides an excellent analytical framework for this study, emphasizing that the adaptability of agents contributes to system complexity. The complex adaptability issues faced by old residential communities essentially involve mismatches among resident adaptive capacities, pathways, and objectives amid changing environmental and socioeconomic conditions. This study focuses on residents of 15 old residential communities in the central urban area of Xuzhou. Utilizing CAS theory, a structural equation model is constructed to explore the mechanisms influencing resident adaptability. The results indicate that the following: ① The perceived built environment and social environment have significant positive impacts on resident adaptability. ② Mediation analysis reveals that the perceived built environment plays a positive mediating role in the relationship between the objective built environment and resident adaptability, as well as between the social environment and resident adaptability. The objective built environment also serves as a positive mediator when the social environment affects resident adaptability. ③ Among the control variables examined, income, family structure, and housing tenure significantly impact resident adaptability. This study not only deepens the theoretical understanding of adaptability issues in old residential communities, providing a more nuanced perspective for understanding residents’ adaptive behaviors in complex environments, but also offers specific strategic recommendations for community renewal and enhancing resident adaptability, thus holding significant theoretical and practical value.