Journal Article

Indoor ventilation frequency and cognitive function among Chinese old adults: the multiple mediation effect of anxiety and self-rated health

He, Pingping, Qiu, Xiaohui, Chen, Jiangping, Qiu, Sihui, Lin, Lu

2025

Overview

Background China is experiencing an increasingly serious aging population. Cognitive function is an important factor and guarantee for the quality of life of older people. Therefore, to achieve healthy aging, this study aimed to examine the sequential multiple mediating effects of indoor ventilation frequency and cognitive function on anxiety and self-rated health in the Chinese older people population. Methods Using the 2018 China Longitudinal Health and Longevity Survey (CLHLS) dataset, we finally selected 10,372 Chinese seniors over the age of 65. First, we describe the basic socio-demographic information of the sample population. Second, Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine whether there was a correlation between indoor ventilation frequency, anxiety, self-rated health, and cognitive function among Chinese older people. Finally, the SPSS macro process program was used to complete the sequence multiple mediation analysis. Results Indoor ventilation frequency, anxiety, self-rated health and cognitive function were significantly correlated ( p  < 0.01). Indoor ventilation frequency not only has a direct positive impact on the cognitive function of older people (effect = 0.1427; Standard error = 0.0201; 95%CI: LL = 0.1034, UL = 0.1821), but also indirectly affected cognitive function through three pathways: independent mediation of anxiety (effect = 0.0078; Standard error = 0.0021; 95%CI: LL = 0.0041, UL = 0.0121), independent mediating effect of self-rated health (effect = 0.0154; Standard error = 0.0030; 95%CI: LL = 0.0098, UL = 0.0215), and the chain mediating effect between anxiety and self-rated health (effect = 0.0046; Standard error = 0.0009; 95%CI: LL = 0.0029, UL = 0.0065). Limitations All projects are self-reported and some results may be biased. In the future, it may be more inspiring to explore more detailed and specific effects of indoor air quality on cognitive function in older people. Conclusions Studies have shown that indoor ventilation frequency can improve cognitive function by reducing anxiety and improving self-rated health in older people Chinese. Encouraging older adults to increase the frequency of indoor ventilation will benefit their mental health and cognitive function. Highlights This study provides empirical evidence for the association between indoor ventilation frequency and cognitive function in older people Chinese adults. We used nationally representative data to investigate the relationship between indoor ventilation frequency and cognitive function and further explored the mediating role of anxiety and self-rated health in Chinese older adults. Indoor ventilation frequency can not only directly affect cognitive function in older people, but also indirectly affect cognitive function through anxiety and self-rated health. Anxiety and self-rated health have a series of mediating effects between indoor ventilation frequency and cognitive function.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Aged / Aged patients / Aged, 80 and over / Aging / Air pollution / Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects / Air quality / Analysis / Anxiety / Anxiety - epidemiology / Anxiety - psychology / Care and treatment / China - epidemiology / Cognition - physiology / Cognitive ability / Cognitive appraisal / Cognitive function / Correlation analysis / East Asian People / Female / Generalized anxiety disorder / Geriatrics/Gerontology / Health aspects / Health care / Health Status / Humans / Indoor air quality / Indoor environments / Indoor ventilation frequency / Life expectancy / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental health / Multiple mediation effect / Older people / Outdoor air quality / Population studies / Quality of life / Quality of Life - psychology / Rehabilitation / Self Report / Self-rated health / Ventilation / Ventilation - methods