Examining the roles of perceived neighbourhood environments in shaping social capital and the happiness of older adults in a super-aged Asian City

As society transitions into super-aged populations, new urban challenges, such as the mobility and health of older adults, have emerged. These challenges can significantly impact quality of life, potentially leading to reduced happiness and highlighting the need for evidence-based policies. Various disciplines have proposed innovative approaches to address these challenges, with land use policies increasingly emphasised in the urban and transport sectors to enhance the happiness of older adults. Previous studies indicate that neighbourhood environments, including mixed land use, walkability, and green spaces, can improve accessibility and promote active travel, such as walking and cycling. This fosters participation in diverse activities and helps reduce stress, thereby enhancing social interactions and contributing to greater happiness. In particular, neighbourhood characteristics, such as walkability and green spaces, provide residents with opportunities for social engagement, strengthening social ties and promoting a sense of belonging. Despite growing evidence of these complex links, few studies have examined these relationships comprehensively, especially among older adults in super-aged cities. Using the 2023 Seoul Survey and a Recursive Probit-Linear model, this study investigates how perceived neighbourhood environmental factors correlate with social capital, and how they relate to the happiness of older adults. Our findings reveal that perceived walkability, quality green spaces, and safety are significantly and positively associated with both social capital and happiness among older adults. Furthermore, while social capital significantly enhances the happiness of older adults, this association is not observed among younger and middle-aged adults. These results underscore the crucial role of perceived neighbourhood environments in shaping both social capital and happiness in later life, offering valuable insights for urban and transport planners committed to developing age-friendly cities. • This study empirically examines the complex interrelationships between perceived neighbourhood environment, social capital, and happiness among older adults. • An integrated analytical framework is to investigate how perceived walkability, green space, and safety simultaneously impact social capital and happiness, especially for older adults. • Social capital strongly enhances happiness in older adults, whereas its impact is marginal among younger and middle-aged adults. • Findings highlight the importance of perceived neighbourhood environment in promoting happiness.