Social Interaction in Public Spaces and Well-Being among Elderly Women: Towards Age-Friendly Urban Environments

Yingyi Zhang, Ge Chen, Yue He, Xinyue Jiang and Caiying Xue
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Yingyi Zhang: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Ge Chen: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Yue He: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Xinyue Jiang: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Caiying Xue: School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: The world’s population is aging and becoming more urbanized. Public space in urban areas is vital for improving the health of the elderly by stimulating social interaction. Many urban design projects are advertised as age-friendly but ignore the real needs of the elderly, especially elderly women, for social interaction in urban public spaces. Insufficient attention is paid to the physical and psychological characteristics of elderly women when shaping public space. This analysis addresses the question: What are the qualities of urban spaces which facilitate health-improving social interaction for elderly women? Methods include a case study in Beijing, field investigation, mapping, and qualitative and quantitative analysis. The survey was carried out in April 2021, and concerned 240 women aged 55–75 years. Results indicate that the social interactions of older women relate to both their physical and psychological situations. Public spaces can positively impact the psychological well-being and social participation of elderly women. Conclusions include insights regarding the relationship between social interaction and well-being among elderly women, as well as proposing a series of principles for shaping public spaces for an age-friendly urban environment.

Keywords: social interaction; public space; elderly women; urban environment; age-friendly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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