Community Environment, Parenting Practices, Social Support, and Children’s Quality of Life in Shanghai, China: A Multi-Scalar and Gendered Analysis

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the relationships between community environment, parenting practices, social support, and children’s quality of life in Shanghai. Grounded in a “4D” framework (Density, Design, Diversity, and Destination), we employed a multi-scalar geospatial approach using 300-meter, 500-meter, 1000-meter, and 1500-meter residential buffers to address the uncertain geographic context problem. Path analysis was used to examine direct and indirect effects. Our results indicate a consistent pattern of attenuation beyond 500 m - observed across multiple community attributes, supporting Shanghai’s 15-minute community life cycle policy. Green park space at 300 m showed a significant direct positive association with children’s quality of life. Residential density and shopping services operated indirectly through parenting practices at both 300 and 500 m. Notably, street connectivity and land use mix showed no significant associations, which differs from the Western context. Social support was consistently predicted by parenting practices, not directly by any community feature. A critical gendered analysis revealed pronounced differences: girls showed more environmental types and more indirect (parenting-mediated) pathways across all buffers. At the same time, boys demonstrated only one significant effect - a direct positive association with green park space at 300 m - with no parenting-mediated pathways. This research provides spatially-sensitive evidence to help urban planners create child-friendly communities through hyper-local interventions (300–500 m), balanced green space design (active parks and vegetated areas), family-supportive density, and gender-responsive design supporting diverse patterns of parenting and child activity.