Developing an environmental adaptation framework for older migrants in Guangzhou, China

Introduction: The sharp rise in older migrants presents significant challenges to social integration in urban areas, particularly in major migration hubs like Guangzhou. Research on older migrants has typically been addressed within the broader contexts of aging and migration studies, but it remains underexplored as a distinct and focused area of study. This research aims to identify the contributing factors of the perceived living environment that influence the life satisfaction of rural-urban older migrants, and to explore the impact pathways through environmental adaptation in the Chinese context, using Guangzhou as a case study. Methods: The Perceived Living Environment Scale was used to assess the physical and social conditions of the environment, while the Environmental Adaptation Scale was developed to evaluate perceived fit among urban migrants across eight dimensions. A total of 385 older migrants participated in this survey. Results: The study proposes an environmental adaptation framework that outlines the pathways through which the living environment affects the life satisfaction of older migrants in Guangzhou. Discussion: This framework offers theoretical insights into the relationships between housing, urban infrastructure, social integration, and well-being, while also serves as a practical guide for policymakers in creating age-inclusive environments that improve the quality of life for older migrants.