PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2015, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (12): 1628-1636.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2015.12.011

• Orginal Article • Previous Articles    

Living environment and life satisfaction of aged population in Beijing Municipality

Jingqiu ZHANG1(), Huan LIU2, Yingxi QI2, Xueyan LI1   

  1. 1. College of Applied Arts and Science of Beijing Union University, Beijing 100191, China
    2. College of Resource, Environment and Tourism of Capital University, Beijing 100048, China
  • Online:2015-12-31 Published:2015-12-31

Abstract:

Taking the 60 years or older population in Beijing as the main research object and based on data from the sixth census and a sampling survey, this study analyzes the spatial characteristics of the living environment and life satisfaction of elderly in Beijing using statistical and spatial analysis methods. The results show that: (1) the aged population of the urban space declined from the Beijing downtown area to the periphery, peaked around the third ring road. The aged population was high in the inner city and the western suburbs, mainly in the Dongcheng and Xicheng Districts, where the percentage of the aged population was generally greater than 10%. The percentage of aged population was relatively high in the Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan Districts, with greater internal differentiation within these districts. (2) The elderly respondents lived mainly in two persons households, followed by four and five persons households and in the latter case the respondents were often younger. Those living alone and empty-nesters often aged over 70 years. Housing of the respondents was often purchased from the work units and this is the main factor affecting the elderly's choice of residence. (3) Overall life satisfaction of the respondents was relatively high. Among the income, health, living conditions, and happiness factors, happiness was slightly higher than the other three factors and satisfaction toward income was relatively low. (4) Dichotomous Logistic models were used to analyze form of living arrangements, relationship with neighbors, surrounding service facilities, and community environmental conditions and it was found that large shopping facilities, community sports activities, relationship with neighbors, and community identity positively impacted on life satisfaction of the elderly respondents, while empty-nest situation and poor medical facilities and property management resulted in a negative impact on the life satisfaction of the elderly respondents.

Key words: aging, satisfaction, living environment, sampling data, Beijing