Life space

<b>O</b><b>bjectives:</b> The objective was to investigate the mechanisms through which physical functions mediates, and social relationships moderate, the association between life space and mental health among community-dwelling older adults in China. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using mediated analysis data from Life Spaces, involving 1,136 older people aged 60 and over in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. The study collected data through structured household interviews. The questionnaire assessed a number of domains including life space, cognitive functions, depressive symptoms, physical functions, social network and social support. Confounding factors such as frequency of movement are taken into account. <b>Results: </b>The proportion of elderly individuals in the community experiencing restricted life space was 33.3%. The life space of older adults showed a positive correlation with cognitive functioning (r = 0.207, P &lt; 0.05) and a negative correlation with depressive symptoms (r = -0.122, P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, physical functioning served as an indirect mediator of the relationship between life space and mental health, accounting for mediating effects of 34.62% and 20%, respectively. The indirect effects were moderated by the influence of social relationships. <b>Conclusions: </b>In the association between life space and mental health among older Chinese adults, physical functioning and social relationships may serve as potential mediators and moderators. This suggests that community health workers or clinical staff should focus on the mobility of life spaces, the enhancement of physical functioning, and the moderation of social relationships when aiming to improve the mental health of older adults.