Environmental perceptions and patterns of well-being among older Americans in small rural towns.

Abstract

This study describes perceptions of the psychosocial, physical, and service environments of 18 small towns reported by older rural Americans (n = 898) exhibiting four different profiles of social and psychological well-being ("partially engaged", "fully engaged", "disengaged", "frail"). Similarities and differences in environmental appraisals among the four groups are discussed, with particular emphasis placed on environmental perceptions of the frail residents. Implications of the results for environment-aging researchers and rural service providers are discussed.