Rapid urbanization has profoundly transformed population structures, posing challenges for migrant older adults as they adapt to new environments. This study explores how physical exercise contributes to their life satisfaction within the context of ecological risks and psychological resilience. The findings reveal that engaging in regular physical activity enhances life satisfaction by simultaneously reducing perceived ecological risks and strengthening psychological capital. Moreover, creating supportive exercise environments further amplifies these positive effects. These results highlight the importance of integrating physical activity promotion with community and policy initiatives to foster active aging, social inclusion, and psychological well-being among the migrant older adult population.
Alonso-Cortés FradejasBLafuente-UretaRCalvoS, et al. (2025) Analysis of an intergenerational service-learning experience based on physical exercise in a community setting: A mixed-method study. Frontiers in Public Health12: 1509016.
2.
Appelqvist-SchmidlechnerKVaaraJMäkinenJ, et al. (2017) Relationships between leisure time physical activity, physical fitness and mental health among young adult males. European Psychiatry41(S1): S179–S179.
3.
AtkinsonLBeitchmanJGonzalezA, et al. (2015) Cumulative risk, cumulative outcome: A 20-year longitudinal study. PLoS One10(6): e0127650.
4.
AveyJBWernsingTSLuthansF (2008) Can positive employees help positive organizational change? Impact of psychological capital and emotions on relevant attitudes and behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science44(1): 48–70.
5.
BanerjeeD (2020) ‘Age and ageism in COVID-19’: Elderly mental health-care vulnerabilities and needs. Asian Journal of Psychiatry51: 102154.
6.
BeckerGS (1974) A theory of social interactions. Journal of Political Economy82(6): 1063–1093.
7.
BreusMJO’ConnorPJ (1998) Exercise-induced anxiolysis: A test of the “time out” hypothesis in high anxious females. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise30(7): 1107–1112.
8.
BronfenbrennerU (1994) ‘Ecological models of human development’. International Encyclopedia of Education3(2): 37–43.
9.
CaoSZhuYLiP, et al. (2022) Age difference in roles of perceived social support and psychological capital on mental health during COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychology13: 801241.
10.
CarstensenLLIsaacowitzDMCharlesST (1999) Taking time seriously: A theory of socioemotional selectivity. American Psychologist54(3): 165–181.
11.
ChangHZhouJWangZ (2022) Multidimensional factors affecting successful aging among empty-nesters in China based on social-ecological system theory. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health19(19): 11885.
12.
DaleiJ (2019) Recreational physical activity reduces the risk of developing serious psychological distress in China’s middle-aged and older adults. Sports Science and Technology Literature Bulletin27(3): 3–5.
13.
DassoNA (2019) How is exercise different from physical activity? A concept analysis: DASSO. Nursing Forum54(1): 45–52.
14.
DengYWangX (2024) The impact of physical activity on social anxiety among college students: The chain mediating effect of social support and psychological capital. Frontiers in Psychology15: 1406452.
15.
DienerEEmmonsRALarsenRJ, et al. (1985) The satisfaction with life scale. Journal of Personality Assessment49(1): 71–75.
16.
Di MaggioIMontenegroELittleTD, et al. (2022) Career adaptability, hope, and life satisfaction: An analysis of adults with and without substance use disorder. Journal of Happiness Studies23(2): 439–454.
17.
EvansGWLiDWhippleSS (2013) Cumulative risk and child development. Psychological Bulletin139(6): 1342–1396.
18.
FørsundETorrado VidalJCFæøSE, et al. (2024) Exploring active ageing in a community-based living environment: An ethnographic study in the Western Norway context. Frontiers in Public Health12: 1380922.
19.
FredricksonBL (2001) The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist56(3): 218–226.
20.
GautunHBrattC (2024) Caring for older parents in Norway – How does it affect labor market participation and absence from work?Social Science & Medicine346: 116722.
21.
GiffordR (2014) Environmental psychology matters. Annual Review of Psychology65(1): 541–579.
22.
HalbeslebenJRNeveuJPPaustian-UnderdahlSC, et al. (2014) Getting to the “COR” understanding the role of resources in conservation of resources theory. Journal of Management40(5): 1334–1364.
23.
HallKSMcAuleyE (2010) Individual, social environmental and physical environmental barriers to achieving 10 000 steps per day among older women. Health Education Research25(3): 478–488.
24.
HeuseSGekelerBFodorD (2021) The role of physical exercise as a personal resource against job stress. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics27(4): 1251–1260.
25.
HobfollSE (1989) Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist44(3): 513–524.
26.
HobfollSE (2001) The influence of culture, community, and the nested-self in the stress process: Advancing conservation of resources theory. Applied Psychology50(3): 337–421.
27.
HobfollSEHalbeslebenJNeveuJP, et al. (2018) Conservation of resources in the organizational context: The reality of resources and their consequences. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior5(1): 103–128.
28.
HuangFFuP (2021) Intergenerational support and subjective wellbeing among oldest-old in China: The moderating role of economic status. BMC Geriatrics21: 1–12.
29.
JangSYOksuzyanAvan LentheFJ, et al. (2025) Living arrangements and chronic disease accumulation among native-born and immigrant older adults in Europe. Social Science & Medicine373: 117954.
30.
KaczynskiATHendersonKA (2007) Environmental correlates of physical activity: A review of evidence about parks and recreation. Leisure Sciences29(4): 315–354.
31.
Kallestrup-LambMMarinAOK (2024) Lifetime healthcare expenditures across socioeconomic groups. BMC Public Health24(1): 2751.
32.
KanBXieY (2024) Impact of sports participation on life satisfaction among internal migrants in China: The chain mediating effect of social interaction and self-efficacy. Acta Psychologica243: 104139.
33.
KhodabakhshS (2022) Factors affecting life satisfaction of older adults in Asia: A systematic review. Journal of Happiness Studies23(3): 1289–1304.
34.
KoutroubasVGalanakisM (2022) Bandura’s social learning theory and its importance in the organizational psychology context. Journal of Psychology Research12(6): 315–322.
35.
KuoZSaiZYinghongD (2010) Positive psychological capital: measurement and relationship with mental health. Studies of Psychology and Behavior8(1): 58.
36.
LandauRLitwinH (2001) Subjective well-being among the old-old: The role of health, personality and social support. International Journal of Aging and Human Development52(4): 265–280.
37.
LeeRMDraperMLeeS (2001) Social connectedness, dysfunctional interpersonal behaviors, and psychological distress: Testing a mediator model. Journal of Counseling Psychology48(3): 310–318.
38.
LeiCJiajingZ (2025) Social comparison, relative deprivation and social integration of elderly people relocated to China - An analysis based on sample survey data from Shenzhen. Social Policy Research (02): 15–26.
39.
LemonBWBengtsonVLPetersonJA (1972) An exploration of the activity theory of aging: Activity types and life satisfaction among in-movers to a retirement community. Journal of Gerontology27(4): 511–523.
40.
LevinskyMSchiffM (2021) Lifetime cumulative adversity and physical health deterioration in old age: Evidence from a fourteen-year longitudinal study. Social Science & Medicine289: 114407.
41.
LiangD (1994) Stress level of college students and its relationship with physical exercise. Chinese Mental Health Journal8(2): 5–6.
42.
LiDZhaoYZhangL, et al. (2016) Cumulative ecological risk and adolescent internet addiction: The mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction and positive outcome expectancy. Acta Psychologica Sinica48(12): 1519–1537.
43.
Lindsay SmithGBantingLEimeR, et al. (2017) The association between social support and physical activity in older adults: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity14: 56.
44.
LinYLaCLuoQ, et al. (2025) Relationship between community physical activity levels, social capital, intergenerational support, and subjective well-being among older adults in China: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Public Health13: 1520565.
45.
LiXCuiLShenQQ, et al. (2024) Relationship between Chinese college students’ attitude to physical exercise and psychological capital: The mediating effects of self-control and gender. Frontiers in Public Health12: 1443489.
46.
MaherJPPincusALRamN, et al. (2015) Daily physical activity and life satisfaction across adulthood. Developmental Psychology51(10): 1407–1419.
47.
National Health Commission (2018) Chinese Migrant Population Development Report 2018: Migrant Population Declined for the Third Consecutive Year. National Health Commission.
48.
ParkSLeeS (2017) Age-friendly environments and life satisfaction among South Korean elders: Person–environment fit perspective. Aging & Mental Health21(7): 693–702.
49.
RobbinsJEStanleyCTSpenceA, et al. (2021) Wellness, life satisfaction, and stress among university students and faculty: Campus-based results and program recommendations. Journal of Physical Education Recreation & Dance92(1): 42–50.
50.
RobisonLSchmidASilesM (2000) Is Social Capital Really Capital. Development Economics.
51.
RobisonLJFloraJL (2003) The social capital paradigm: bridging across disciplines. American Journal of Agricultural Economics85(5): 1187–1193.
52.
SaniNAYusoffSSMNorhayatiMN, et al. (2023) Tai Chi exercise for mental and physical well-being in patients with depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health20(4): 2828.
53.
SantosE (2024) Shifting demographics and economic performance: Unraveling the influence of population aging on GDP dynamics and regional inequalities. Journal of Economic Analysis3(1): 118–128.
54.
SemmerNK (2006) Personality, stress, and coping. In: VollrathME (ed.) Handbook of Personality and Health. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, pp.73–113.
55.
ShanHIshakZFanL (2022) The higher the life satisfaction, the better the psychological capital? Life satisfaction and psychological capital: A moderated mediation model. Frontiers in Psychology12: 772129.
56.
ShaohuaTQixiaoHLuyaoC, et al. (2020) A study on the impact of urban park environments on the daily social activities of the elderly. Chinese Landscape Architecture36(4): 44–48.
57.
ShijunTWenwuLMingleiM, et al. (2023) A qualitative study of sport to promote urban social integration of the elderly who move with the elderly. China Sports Science and Technology59(04): 101–108.
58.
SmithJLHollinger-SmithL (2015) Savoring, resilience, and psychological well-being in older adults. Aging & Mental Health19(3): 192–200.
59.
SuN (2022) The impact of cumulative ecological risk on the quality of life of rural middle-aged and older Hui’an women: The mediating role of health literacy. Master Thesis, Xiamen University. DOI: 10.27424/d.cnki.gxmdu.2022.003933.
60.
SunYZhangBJiA, et al. (2022) A study on the impact of Wushu sports health on college students’ mental health. Journal of Environmental and Public Health2022(1): 5841017.
61.
SyueSHYangHFWangCW, et al. (2022) The associations between physical activity, functional fitness, and life satisfaction among community-dwelling older adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health19(13): 8043.
62.
TariARWalkerTLHuuhaAM, et al. (2025) Neuroprotective mechanisms of exercise and the importance of fitness for healthy brain ageing. Lancet405(10484): 1093–1118.
63.
TkachCLyubomirskyS (2006) How do people pursue happiness?: Relating personality, happiness-increasing strategies, and well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies7(2): 183–225.
64.
TorosTOgrasEBToyAB, et al. (2023) The impact of regular exercise on life satisfaction, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in older adults. Behavioral Sciences13(9): 714.
65.
Van CauwenbergJNathanABarnettA, et al. (2018) Relationships between neighbourhood physical environmental attributes and older adults’ leisure-time physical activity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine48: 1635–1660.
66.
VanderWeeleTJJohnsonBR (2025) Multidimensional versus unidimensional approaches to well-being. Nature Human Behaviour9: 857–863.
67.
WangHLiuYPeiZ, et al. (2023) The influence of tai chi exercise on the subjective well-being in the aged: The mediating role of physical fitness and cognitive function. BMC Geriatrics23(1): 636.
68.
WenwuZ (2023) Family happiness or lonely nostalgia? A multi-dimensional measurement and analysis of the influencing factors of Urban integration of migrant elderly. Population and Development29(05): 91–104.
69.
WhiteRLRyanDYoungC, et al. (2023) How does the context of physical activity influence perceived mood and wellbeing after exercise?Mental Health and Physical Activity24: 100504.
70.
WuBXiongGZhangP, et al. (2024) Effects of tai chi, ba duan jin, and walking on the mental health status of urban older people living alone: The mediating role of social participation and the moderating role of the exercise environment. Frontiers in Public Health12: 1294019.
71.
YangFZhengJLiW, et al. (2025) Perceived neighbourhood walkability and depressive symptoms of rural older adults in urbanisation: The role of community-based social capital. Journal of Community Psychology53(1): e23172.
72.
YangMDijstMFaberJ, et al. (2020) Using structural equation modeling to examine pathways between perceived residential green space and mental health among internal migrants in China. Environmental Research183: 109121.
73.
YangQTangYJenningsG, et al. (2022) Physical activity and subjective well-being of older adults during COVID-19 prevention and control normalization: Mediating role of outdoor exercise environment and regulating role of exercise form. Frontiers in Psychology13: 1014967.
74.
YangYDecelleSReedM, et al. (2011) Subjective experiences of older adults practicing taiji and qigong. Journal of Aging Research2011(1): 650210.
75.
YanZ (2024) Cumulative ecological risk and sleep quality: The mediating role of life satisfaction and the moderating role of sleep beliefs. Journal of South China normal University (Social Science Edition) (4): 59–73.
76.
Youssef-MorganCM (2024) Psychological capital and mental health: Twenty-five years of progress. Organizational Dynamics53: 101081.
77.
YuHLiXYuX, et al. (2025) How physical exercise enhances life satisfaction in Chinese senior college students: Mediating roles of self-efficacy and resilience. Frontiers in Psychology16: 1515101.
78.
YuSWangJXiaY, et al. (2024) The status quo and influencing factors of intrinsic capacity among community-dwelling older adults from the perspective of Ecological Systems Theory: A cross-sectional study. BMC Geriatrics24(1): 934.
79.
ZhangFLooBPYWangB (2022) Aging in place: From the neighborhood environment, sense of community, to life satisfaction. Annals of the American Association of Geographers112(5): 1484–1499.
80.
ZhangJZhangJZhouM, et al. (2018) Neighborhood characteristics and older adults’ well-being: The roles of sense of community and personal resilience. Social Indicators Research137: 949–963.
