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Behavioral Sciences
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Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the...
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Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 23224

Editor

Dr. Daniela Aisenberg-Shafran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Psychology of Adulthood and Aging, Ruppin Academic Center, Emek Hefer 4025000, Israel
Interests: healthy aging; cognitive psychology; mindfulness

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Most older adults age in the community. A higher quality of life and psychological well-being in old age is important not only for the aging person but also for their family, who may experience psychological distress themselves, as well as for the welfare and economy of the society.

“Aging in place” is defined as “the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level” [1]. In other words, aging in place involves ensuring that older adults have access to the necessary resources to remain in their own environment, thereby maintaining their independence, autonomy, and social network [2], all of which contribute to their mental health and cognitive functioning.

This Special Issue aims to bring together research on various interventions that promote healthy cognitive aging in the community. Psychological integrations and age-related interventions, as well as research reviews, are welcome.

  1. Healthy Places Terminology. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/terminology.htm. (accessed on 16 April 2024)
  2. Wiles, J. L.; Leibing, A.; Guberman, N.; Reeve, J.; Allen, R. E. S. The Meaning of “Aging in Place” to Older People. Gerontologist 2011, 52, 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr098.

Dr. Daniela Aisenberg-Shafran
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aging
  • cognitive abilities
  • psychological well-being
  • aging in place
  • interventions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3946 KB  
Article
Perceived Spatial Environment and Outdoor Activity in Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Affective and Cognitive Mediating Pathways
by Bojing Liao, Bo Li, Xinxin Lin and Qiantong Ouyang
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(7), 1139; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16071139 - 7 Jul 2026
Viewed by 318
Abstract
Background: Outdoor activity is essential for healthy aging, yet the affective, cognitive, and behavioral pathways linking perceived neighborhood environment to outdoor activity in middle-aged and older Chinese adults remain underexplored. Objective: This cross-sectional study examined associations between perceived spatial environment and outdoor activity, [...] Read more.
Background: Outdoor activity is essential for healthy aging, yet the affective, cognitive, and behavioral pathways linking perceived neighborhood environment to outdoor activity in middle-aged and older Chinese adults remain underexplored. Objective: This cross-sectional study examined associations between perceived spatial environment and outdoor activity, and tested five candidate mediators in a parallel-mediation framework, among community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 50 in Xiamen, China. Methods: Of 251 returned questionnaires, 99 cases with inconsistent response patterns and 12 high-leverage cases (Cook’s D > 3/n) were excluded, yielding N = 140. Hierarchical regression and non-parametric bootstrap mediation (5000 resamples; bias-corrected 95% Cis) were conducted, with sensitivity analyses, Fornell–Larcker discriminant-validity assessment, and Harman’s single-factor test for common-method bias. Results: Perceived spatial environment was strongly associated with outdoor activity (β = 0.96, p < 0.001). Bootstrap analyses identified four significant indirect pathways—place attachment (0.26 [0.13, 0.39]), perceived social environment (0.21 [0.11, 0.31]), service environment (0.18 [0.09, 0.28]), and attitudinal preferences (0.17 [0.05, 0.29])—whereas the a priori hypothesized behavioral mediator, social interaction, did not reach statistical significance (0.10 [−0.000, 0.205]). Sensitivity analyses confirmed coefficient stability across outlier-trimmed and untrimmed samples. Conclusions: Findings are consistent with an environment–behavior model in which affective and cognitive constructs—particularly place attachment—appear to be more proximal mediators than enacted social-interaction frequency. Given high inter-construct correlations (limited discriminant validity) and a self-selected community-active sample, results are best interpreted as hypothesis-generating and require replication with longitudinal and multi-method designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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23 pages, 1041 KB  
Article
Imagining the Future Aged Self Reduces Ageism: The Role of Self–Other Overlap and the Moderating Effect of Gain–Loss Framing
by Dexian He, Quan He, Hongyan Zhu and Xianyou He
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16050783 - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Population aging poses growing social and economic challenges, yet effective psychological interventions targeting ageism remain limited. The present research examined whether future-aged-self perspective taking increases self–other overlap with older adults and promotes prosocial behavioral responses toward them, and whether these effects depend on [...] Read more.
Population aging poses growing social and economic challenges, yet effective psychological interventions targeting ageism remain limited. The present research examined whether future-aged-self perspective taking increases self–other overlap with older adults and promotes prosocial behavioral responses toward them, and whether these effects depend on decision-making context. In Study 1 (N = 160), participants completed a perspective-taking task followed by a Dictator Game. Individuals who imagined their future aged self reported greater self–other overlap with older adults and allocated more resources to older, compared with younger, targets. Study 2 (N = 143) extended this investigation using a Welfare Trade-Off Task that manipulated gain versus loss framing. Participants in the future-aged-self condition again reported higher self–other overlap and stronger intentions to communicate with older adults. They also showed higher welfare trade-off ratios favoring older adults under gain-framed conditions, whereas no significant group difference emerged under loss framing. These findings suggest that future-aged-self perspective taking can enhance young adults’ prosocial responses toward older adults, but that its effectiveness is contingent on situational framing. Temporal-self interventions may be most effective when prosocial action is framed as allocating potential gains rather than accepting explicit personal losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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15 pages, 651 KB  
Article
The Effects of Connectedness to Nature on Psychological Well-Being in Chinese Older Adults: A Moderated Mediation Model
by Lijun Zhu, Peimin Zhang, Song Gui, Chan Gao, Xiaofang Shen and Can Jiao
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15091200 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1805
Abstract
With the global aging population increasing, promoting psychological well-being (PWB) in later life has become critical. This study employed a cross-sectional design to examine the impact of connectedness to nature (CtN) on PWB among Chinese older adults, focusing on the mediating role of [...] Read more.
With the global aging population increasing, promoting psychological well-being (PWB) in later life has become critical. This study employed a cross-sectional design to examine the impact of connectedness to nature (CtN) on PWB among Chinese older adults, focusing on the mediating role of self-perceptions of aging (SPA) and the moderating effect of meaning in life (MIL). Data from 401 participants were analyzed using a moderated mediation model, controlling for demographic variables. The results indicate that CtN is positively associated with PWB, partially through reducing negative SPA. Moreover, MIL strengthens both the direct effect of CtN on PWB and its indirect effect via SPA. These findings underscore the importance of fostering nature connection and meaning in life to enhance well-being in older adults and offer valuable insights for interventions promoting healthy aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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24 pages, 1932 KB  
Article
Investigating Elderly Individuals’ Acceptance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Companion Robots: The Influence of Individual Characteristics
by Jing Liu, Xingang Wang and Jiaqi Zhang
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 697; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15050697 - 18 May 2025
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10251
Abstract
The emergence of AI companion robots is transforming the landscape of elderly care, offering numerous conveniences to senior citizens when their children are not around. This trend is particularly pertinent in ageing societies such as China. Against this backdrop, the present study aims [...] Read more.
The emergence of AI companion robots is transforming the landscape of elderly care, offering numerous conveniences to senior citizens when their children are not around. This trend is particularly pertinent in ageing societies such as China. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to explore the acceptance of AI companion robots among the elderly from a user-centric perspective. By leveraging insights from existing studies in the literature, we identified three individual characteristic variables—technology optimism, innovativeness, and familiarity—to extend the Artificial Intelligence Device Use Acceptance (AIDUA) model. Subsequently, we developed a conceptual model which was empirically tested through structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis. Our dataset comprised responses from 452 elderly individuals in China. The results revealed that technology optimism and innovativeness were positively associated with performance expectancy and effort expectancy, whereas familiarity inversely predicted perceived risk. Furthermore, emotion was found to be positively influenced by performance expectancy and effort expectancy but negatively impacted by perceived risk. This research extends the AIDUA model within the context of AI companion robots by integrating individual characteristic variables. These findings offer valuable insights for the design and development of companion robots and enrich the domain of Human–Robot Interaction (HRI). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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23 pages, 2124 KB  
Article
Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Seniors—An Exploratory Semi-Randomized Examination of Decentering Effects on Cognitive Functions and Psychological Distress
by Ophir Katzenelenbogen and Daniela Aisenberg-Shafran
Behav. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15040466 - 3 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 5209
Abstract
The need for psychological treatment in the community, specifically in times of crisis and for those in isolation, calls for finding suitable interventions, especially for older adults. The present study examined the effect of a short mindfulness-based intervention emphasizing a ’decentering’ component and [...] Read more.
The need for psychological treatment in the community, specifically in times of crisis and for those in isolation, calls for finding suitable interventions, especially for older adults. The present study examined the effect of a short mindfulness-based intervention emphasizing a ’decentering’ component and an equivalent guided-imagery intervention on cognitive and emotional measures in seniors living in the community. Thirty community seniors (Mage = 74.7) performed either ’decentering’ or matched guided-imagery intervention, or care as usual as a control. The 8-week interventions included weekly 20 min sessions and daily 10 min home practice. Participants underwent a cognitive and emotional assessment before and after the interventions, which included filling out questionnaires and performing the cognitive Simon task. The results showed improvements only for intervention groups: cognitively, reduced response time and improved accuracy rate were found in the Simon task. Emotionally, reported depression levels were decreased and an increase in reported positive relationships was found. Our study, hence, introduces two intervention protocols, with promising positive effects on psychological and cognitive status. This contributes evidence-based treatments, easy to deliver in nursing homes or retirement communities, for improving the life quality of older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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13 pages, 460 KB  
Article
The Relationship between Marital Satisfaction and Spiritual Well-Being of Chinese Older Adults: The Mediating Effect of Psychological Security and Aging Expectations
by Longxing Tang, Yachi Yang, Zhiwei An, Yalian Huang and Ping Tang
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 949; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100949 - 15 Oct 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3698
Abstract
This study explores the relationship between marital satisfaction and spiritual well-being in older adults and the role of psychological security and aging expectations in older adult relationships. A convenient sample cross-sectional research method collected data from 367 older adults in Sichuan Province, China. [...] Read more.
This study explores the relationship between marital satisfaction and spiritual well-being in older adults and the role of psychological security and aging expectations in older adult relationships. A convenient sample cross-sectional research method collected data from 367 older adults in Sichuan Province, China. A chain mediation model was constructed using quantitative analysis methods to test the relationship between marital satisfaction and older adults’ spiritual well-being and the potential mediating roles of psychological security and aging expectations. The research conclusions are as follows: marital satisfaction positively correlates with spiritual well-being, and psychological security and aging expectations play independent chain mediating roles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Embracing Aging in Place: Fostering Healthy Cognitive Aging in the Community)
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