@article{ZHANG2025, 
author = {Lingling ZHANG and Xiangdong DAI and Jiaying LI and Fang LUO and Zhou LYU and Wenbo XIAO},
title = {Analysis of influencing factors for elderly-oriented cabinet design based on PLS-SEM model},
year = {2025},
journal = {Journal of Central South University of Forestry & Technology},
volume = {45},
number = {4},
pages = {211-224},
keywords = {cabinet, suitable aging, intelligent, suitability, PLS-SEM model},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.14067/j.cnki.1673-923x.2025.04.020},
doi = {10.14067/j.cnki.1673-923x.2025.04.020},
abstract = {【Objective】To accurately capture the needs of elderly individuals regarding cabinet usage by constructing a structural equation model to analyze the key factors influencing the design of age-friendly cabinets. The results provide important data support for the design of age-friendly cabinets and the formulation of corresponding product marketing strategies.【Method】This study focused on elderly individuals aged 60 and above, using a questionnaire survey method. A total of 457 valid questionnaires were collected to gather data on the independent variables affecting the design of age-friendly cabinets. The Likert 5-point scale was used to analyze and quantify the impact of each indicator on the design of age-friendly cabinets. Then, 36 design indicators were selected from six aspects: materials, dimensions, layout, functionality, color, and intelligence. Innovation was considered as a mediating variable, and consumer willingness as the dependent variable. A partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was employed to empirically analyze the key factors influencing the design of age-friendly cabinets.【Result】1) In the reliability and validity test of the scale, the cronbach's alpha values of the eight dimensions-layout, materials, dimensions, functionality, color, intelligence, innovation, and consumer willingness were all above 0.86, indicating strong internal consistency among the measurement items. The composite reliability values exceeded 0.8, further confirming the scale's high reliability. The average variance extracted (AVE) values were all above 0.7, demonstrating good convergent validity. The measurement model of aging cabinet design constructed in this study has good performance in terms of reliability and validity; 2) The scale was verified using AMOS software, and the square roots of AVE for each dimension were higher than the square values of its correlations with all other variables, proving good discriminant validity; 3) In the PLS-SEM model, the factor loading coefficients of the dimensions were relatively high, but there were differences in the loading coefficients of various indicators within their respective dimensions. Indicators with higher factor loading coefficients should be prioritized, as they provide stronger explanatory power for latent variables; 4) Hypothesis testing revealed that the path coefficients of H1-H6 passed the significance test (P < 0.05), and the indirect effects of H7-H12 on different paths passed the significance test (P < 0.05), indicating that the previous hypothesis was established at a certain significance level.【Conclusion】A series of crucial influencing factors for the design of age-friendly cabinets were identified. Among these, functionality had the highest influence on purchase willingness, while the influence of intelligent features was relatively lower. The product's functional characteristics emerged as one of the most critical factors in the design of age-friendly cabinets, providing a theoretical basis for the design and marketing strategies of age-friendly cabinets.}
}