The effects of indoor acoustic and visual environments on the mental health of older adults: a systematic review

Jingyi Mu, Peiyu Li (), Zhe Qin, Yimeng Feng and Cheng Zhang
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Jingyi Mu: Harbin Institute of Technology
Peiyu Li: Harbin Institute of Technology
Zhe Qin: Harbin Institute of Technology
Yimeng Feng: Harbin Institute of Technology
Cheng Zhang: Harbin Institute of Technology

Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the impact of indoor audiovisual environments on the mental health of older adults and provide recommendations for future research. The review focuses on studies examining various methods linking indoor acoustic and visual environments with the mental health of older adults. A Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT) was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included studies. Through systematic searches, we identified 33 English-language studies from five databases, including PubMed, involving older adults aged 60 and above. Key findings include: (1) Daylight and music have a positive effect on the emotional regulation of older adults, particularly in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms. (2) While existing studies focus on lighting and audio interventions, research on spatial design and functional layout remains limited, and there is a lack of standardized measurement tools. (3) Individual differences, such as cultural background and education level, affect how environmental factors influence the mental health of older adults. (4) Environmental factors such as noise, lighting, and music significantly influence the emotional and depressive states of older adults, with certain acoustic and visual environments potentially interacting with one another. Despite providing synthesis evidence on the impact of acoustic and visual environments on the mental health of older adults, this review highlights several important limitations. Some studies exhibit methodological bias, which may affect the reliability of their results. Additionally, most studies were cross-sectional, lacking longitudinal designs and large sample sizes, and failed to evaluate the long-term impact of environmental factors on the mental health of older adults. Future studies should focus on exploring the interaction of multiple environmental factors, particularly the effect of individual differences on environmental responses. Standardized environmental assessment tools tailored for older adults should be developed, alongside longitudinal designs and large-scale samples to examine the long-term effects of environmental factors on mental health. Furthermore, indoor environment design should consider the combined effects of multisensory environments to create living spaces that are more conducive to the mental health of older adults.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05981-8

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