居住環境對臺灣高齡者老化和幸福感之作用

The Role of Living Environment in Ageing and Happiness Perception among Older Adults in Taiwan

居住環境對高齡者的老化與幸福感起著至關重要的作用。本研究驗證臺灣高齡者對居住環境的評價和幸福感間的相互影響關係，並討論異質性。本研究採用雙變量一般化依序Probit模型及409個樣本。研究發現，高齡者對居住環境的評價及幸福感知存在顯著的交互影響關係。當社區被認知為清潔、有趣、安全時，其適居的機率會增加，凸顯居住環境設計應該融入有趣的元素，避免單調與沉悶。不滿意的生活品質和年齡解釋了高齡者的異質性。隨著年齡增長，高齡者愈趨依賴既有之生活環境，為了維持日常生活的一致性感知，高齡者的退休計劃應納入改善或搬遷規劃。

The living environment plays a crucial role in the ageing and happiness perception of older adults. This study verifies the mutual influence of living environment evaluation and happiness perception in older adults living in Taiwan and discusses the heterogeneous variables involved. A total of 409 samples were used in a Bivariate Generalised Ordered Probit model. The findings demonstrate that the interactive relationship between the evaluation of the living environment of older adults and their psychological perception of happiness is significant. When the evaluated community is perceived as clean, interesting, and safe, its probability of being suitable for living increases, which highlights that interesting elements should be incorporated into the designs of living environments, while avoiding a monotonous and dull environment. Unsatisfactory quality of life and age explained the heterogeneity among older adults. Moreover, with progressing age, older adults’dependency on their existing residences increased. Therefore, to maintain consistency in older adults’daily lives, their retirement plans should include improving their current residences or moving them to better ones.