Neighborhood cohesion’s role in supporting perceived mastery and quality of life in older adults

Abstract Neighborhood cohesion has been linked to the health of older adults by influencing psychological and behavioral well-being. This study examines the role of neighborhood cohesion in older adults’ health, with a particular focus on its support for perceived mastery from a relational autonomy perspective. Specifically, it investigates whether perceived mastery and self-rated health mediate the relationship between neighborhood cohesion and life satisfaction in older adults. Using data from the 2018 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (N = 2,279), we conducted multiple mediation analyses with PROCESS Macro Model 6 to assess the mediating roles of psychological and health-related factors in this relationship. The findings reveal that higher neighborhood social cohesion is significantly associated with greater perceived mastery (b = 0.104, p < .001), which, in turn, is linked to better self-rated health (b = 0.1172, p < .001) and higher life satisfaction (b = 0.3142, p < .001). The primary mediation pathway (Neighborhood Cohesion → Perceived Mastery → Life Satisfaction) shows a significant indirect effect (b = 0.0327, 95% CI [0.0187, 0.0478]). Additionally, a secondary but significant mediation pathway (Neighborhood Cohesion → Perceived Mastery → Self-Rated Health → Life Satisfaction) further contributes to the overall effect (b = 0.0022, 95% CI [0.0011, 0.0037]). The total indirect effect of neighborhood cohesion on life satisfaction is also significant (b = 0.0403, 95% CI [0.0248, 0.0569]). These results highlight the importance of fostering socially cohesive neighborhoods to enhance psychological resilience, health, and overall life satisfaction among older adults.