Temperature and Functional Disability Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Assessing the Role of Individual and Built Environment Adaptations

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to public health. While existing studies document its detrimental effects, the impact on functional disability and how to mitigate the effects remain underexplored. Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) during 2011–2018, this study finds that higher temperatures correlate with higher levels of functional difficulty measured by activities of daily living (ADL) scores among China’s middle-aged and older adults. Subgroup analyses indicate that males and those of greater age experience larger adverse effects. However, individual- and community-level adaptations help mitigate the adverse effects of higher temperatures on ADL difficulty, with access to air conditioning and healthcare facilities serving as key protective factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted climate adaptation policies, including promoting air conditioning accessibility and enhancing community infrastructure, to safeguard the well-being of aging populations facing climate change.