THE EFFECT OF MOBILITY ON OLDER ADULTS' WELL-BEING: BASED ON THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION

LIU Jia-hang; LIU Qi-yang

doi:10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.004

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HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (2) : 30-38. DOI: 10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.004

SOCIETY

THE EFFECT OF MOBILITY ON OLDER ADULTS' WELL-BEING: BASED ON THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION

LIU Jia-hang, LIU Qi-yang

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Abstract

Healthy aging is a critical pillar of Healthy China Strategy. Investigating the effect of mobility on older adults' well-being and its underlying mechanisms is crucial for enhancing their overall well-being. Based on the mobility—social exclusion—well-being theoretical framework, this study uses the survey data of 1109 older adults from ten major cities in China to explore the effects of maintenance and leisure travel frequencies on eudaimonic and hedonic well-being, and the mediation effect of social exclusion. The results reveal that maintenance travel frequency is directly and negatively associated with well-being, while leisure travel frequency is directly and positively correlated with well-being. Social exclusion plays a key mediating role: maintenance travel frequency reduces well-being by increasing social exclusion, whereas leisure travel frequency enhances well-being by decreasing social exclusion. The impact of leisure travel frequency on flourishing and positive affect is greater than that of maintenance travel frequency, while maintenance travel frequency is more important for negative affect. This study emphasizes the differentiated role of mobility types, reveals the key mechanisms of social exclusion, and provides policy implications for optimizing the mobility and enhancing the well-being of older adults in the Chinese context.

Key words

mobility / social exclusion / well-being / healthy aging / leisure travel

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LIU Jia-hang, LIU Qi-yang. THE EFFECT OF MOBILITY ON OLDER ADULTS' WELL-BEING: BASED ON THE MEDIATION EFFECT OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION[J]. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY. 2026, 41(2): 30-38 https://doi.org/10.13959/j.issn.1003-2398.2026.02.004

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