This study examined the effect of community support and psychological well-being in aging on place in Iowa older people. The data of 1,134 older participants aged 65 years and over were analyzed in this study. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple sample analysis in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using Mplus 6.1 were performed to assess how community support predicted aging in place through psychological well-being (loneliness, depression, self-rated health) and to compare this assessment between metropolitan (metro) and non-metropolitan (non-metro) residents. Differences between metro and non-metro residents were obtained in community support, depression and self-rated health. Multiple sample analysis showed that there was a difference in the relationships among community support, psychological well-being, and aging in place. We concluded that the environment—community and degree of urbanization—is a key factor in maintaining physical health as well as psychological well-being among older adults.
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