| Sumario: | This study aims to identify loneliness trajectory patterns among Chinese older adults, examine the association between community environment and loneliness trajectory patterns, and test the moderating role of urban–rural residence in the association. Data were obtained from 2011, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2020 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. A total of 6589 participants aged 60 or above were enrolled. This study employed a group‐based trajectory model to investigate loneliness trajectory patterns from 2011 to 2020. The findings revealed three patterns: low‐stable (54%), medium‐increasing (13%), and high‐stable (33%). Results of multinomial logistic regression showed community environment significantly associated with loneliness trajectory patterns. Specifically, compared to participants with low‐stable loneliness trajectory pattern, the community environment was negatively associated with those experiencing high‐stable loneliness trajectory pattern, and that association was true for urban residents only. The findings contribute crucial evidence that better community environment at baseline was associated with a lower likelihood of belonging to adverse loneliness trajectory patterns over the follow‐up period, and they provide implications for community environment improvement, considering urban–rural disparities.
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