Influence of the Built Environment on Elder Social Capital and Its Structure: An Empirical Study Based on Three Characteristic Communities in High-Density Cities of China

In this study, we utilized survey data from three Shenzhen communities to investigate how the built community environment influences elderly physical activity and social capital in China’s high-density urban settings. Based on this, we analyzed how the spatial characteristics of the built environment affect the formation and structure of social capital. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the influencing factors and pathways of the built environment on social capital, with physical activity being a mediating factor. The results show that the built environment significantly affects physical activity, which in turn promotes social capital. Key attributes such as the green space ratio, building density, land-use mixture, and street density positively influence both physical activity and social capital. Additionally, the distribution of the surrounding environment and activity space within the community will influence the structural features of social capital by affecting the structure of social networks. Consequently, communities with different spatial layout features will develop social capital with distinct structures. This study also highlights the importance of community design in fostering social interactions and trust among the elderly. These findings offer valuable guidance for urban design and policy planning to support active aging and social inclusion in rapidly urbanizing societies.