The Role of Urban Parks in Promoting Social Interaction of Older Adults in China
5.1. The Effects of Personal, Social, Physical, and Park Use Factors on the Social Interaction of Older Adults in Urban Parks
Among the personal factors, gender and health status significantly affected the social interactions of older adults in urban parks, and the personal factors contributed the most to the explanation of social interactions. The model results indicate that older women exert a greater influence on social interactions than older men, and better health status in older adults correlates with a stronger positive impact on social interactions. These results are consistent with previous studies. The results of many studies suggest that compared to men, women are more inclined to engage in social interactions, especially after retirement, and they may have a more active need for social networks to maintain social connections [89]. In addition, older women are also more likely to be inclined to participate in group activities or community-organized events [90], a phenomenon that is more common in public spaces such as urban parks. Self-rated health status-based evidence suggests that good health facilitates older adults’ interactions in parks, possibly because older adults in good health have fewer physical limitations, making it easier for them to socialize with others. Furthermore, good health may also be associated with more positive attitudes toward life and socialization.
This study examined perceived social environment factors and found that social cohesion was significantly and positively correlated with social interactions. Social cohesion is a composite indicator of trust, mutual help, and rapport. Weijs-Perrée et al. found that social cohesion positively influences social interaction [45]. Winsor et al. also noted that it can increase comfort and support among older adults, thus promoting greater social participation [91]. Consequently, older adults perceiving fellow park users as trustworthy can lessen psychological barriers to socialization. Furthermore, a supportive atmosphere in parks might increase older adults’ propensity to engage in social activities. This could lead to more proactive behavior in seeking or offering assistance, enhancing social connections. Most of the older adults in this study are young retired older adults who are affected by social role changes and prone to negative emotions when they are alone for a long period of time, so they are in urgent need of mental comfort in the community environment. A harmonious park environment likely contributes to older adults feeling more accepted and respected, thus encouraging active participation in social interactions and fostering a sense of presence and vitality on a deeper, spiritual level.
This study analyzed older adults’ subjective perceptions of park features, partially reflecting their views. Among these five features (Table 3), condition received the highest rating, followed by features, accessibility, and aesthetics, with safety scoring the lowest. The findings indicate that features significantly influence older adults’ social interactions. Notably, features like seating, fitness equipment, restrooms, vegetation, and shaded areas were crucial to older adults and markedly affected their social interactions. In line with existing research, extensive studies in the literature underscore the profound effect of vegetation on diverse social processes [92,93,94]. Trees and grassy spaces are believed to foster increased participation, thereby enhancing the likelihood of informal social interactions [95]. Additionally, parks should offer essential amenities, including adequate shade, exercise equipment, seating, and restrooms, to encourage older adults’ active engagement in social interactions [21].
Good conditions have potential implications for supporting social interactions. Some studies point to poorly maintained paths as a major barrier to park use for older adults [96,97]. The absence of noise and uncivilized behavior positively affect older adults’ social interactions, and noise such as road traffic has been reported to have less of an impact on people when surrounded by greenery [98,99]. Contrary to visitors who find sounds like children playing, square dancing, and musical instruments disruptive, older adults in this study did not perceive these as noise. A possible explanation for this is that activities such as square dancing and instrumental performances are an important part of older adults’ activities in parks and often bring with them a strong sense of participation. In contrast, the playing and shouting of children may evoke memories of their own children or their grandchildren, resulting in a positive emotional response. Furthermore, older adults may view children’s play and musical activities as social environments that offer opportunities for interaction and observation. While some older adults might initially dislike this “noise,” regular exposure can lead to acclimatization, reducing its perception as a distraction. Therefore, this phenomenon likely results from a mix of cultural background, social needs, and adaptability, reflecting older adults’ unique context.
Similarity, the subjective dimension of urban park accessibility plays a key role in influencing park use and health-related behaviors and significantly affects the correlation between green space and social relationships [100]. In this study, participants were predominantly young retirees. While distance to external spaces was a factor in park choice, accessibility within the park was more critical. If a park is popular and provides numerous leisure activities, people might underestimate the importance of distance; conversely, the impact of distance can be exaggerated [101]. For younger retirees seeking social interaction, accessibility within the park means easier access and participation in social activities. Specifically, enhancements to the road connection network improve access to diverse park areas, thereby increasing mobility and accessibility. These enhancements enable retirees to easily access various park areas and participate in activities, thus expanding opportunities for social engagement and the observation of others.
In the Chinese context, this study did not include urban public safety and security as investigation items, focusing instead on environmental safety aspects like lighting, facilities, and roads. Contrary to studies that emphasize the significant impact of safety, this research found no notable effect of safety on the social interactions of older adults. Two potential reasons for this finding are identified: firstly, the lack of lighting facilities for a long period of time may have lowered the expectations of older adults, and secondly, older adults do not use parks frequently at night; their main activities at night are based on fitness and walking rather than social interactions. However, from the point of the evaluation of the safety aspect, it is necessary to improve the quality of parks. Enhancements are needed in night-time lighting in areas frequented by older adults, better enforcement against motorized vehicles in parks, and attention to the paving’s smoothness and anti-skid properties.
Despite numerous studies highlighting the benefits of perceived aesthetics in enhancing park usage, walking, physical activities, and psychological well-being, no evidence was found in this research to suggest that aesthetics significantly influence social interactions within parks. For instance, a qualitative interview study on parks designed for older adults identified organized activities and aesthetics as crucial for social interaction [43], and that visually appealing natural and artificial environments are known to enhance social life in small urban areas [102]. Differences in findings may stem from variations in research methods, geographic climates, cultural contexts, and target populations. This study was conducted during the summer, and the high number of mosquitoes near the water features may have led to some negative feelings. Additionally, since older adults’ social interactions often involve participation in or observation of others’ activities, amenities may hold more significance than visual appeal.
Ultimately, the study’s results indicate a significant association between park use patterns and social interactions. However, a direct causal link to changes in social interactions cannot be inferred due to the confounding effects of other variables. One possible explanation for this result is that frequent park visits by older adults prompted more opportunities for encounters and interactions, especially in free outdoor spaces. These frequent visits could be driven by activities, scenery, and different people, offering regular social engagement and the chance to build consistent social networks. For instance, some older adults partake in self-organized choral activities six days a week (with Fridays off), enriching their lives and enhancing the spiritual fulfillment derived from interacting with others, crucial in mitigating social isolation and segregation. Correspondingly, some studies have noted that frequent visits to parks can increase social interactions [52]. Conversely, infrequent visits may diminish the role of green spaces as spaces for social interaction [103], and longer stays in parks can increase the likelihood of social interaction among residents [17].
Overall, the results of this study underscore the significant impact of personal factors (including gender and health status), social cohesion, the physical characteristics of urban parks, and usage patterns on older adults’ social interactions. Table 6 provides a summary of these findings and proposes guidelines aimed at enhancing social interactions in urban parks for older adults, thereby promoting the creation of age-friendly and sustainable urban environments.
5.3. Limitation and Future Research
This study advances the exploration of promoting the social interactions of older adults in urban parks in China, yet limitations should be acknowledged. First, data based on self-reports may introduce biases, limiting the findings’ broad applicability. To mitigate this, future research should employ a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and objective observations for a more holistic perspective. Additionally, the study’s limited sample size constrained the comprehension of social interaction variances among older adults across different age groups. Therefore, expanding the sample and conducting comparisons are recommended to discern how urban parks affect interactions among older age subgroups. Second, this study did not capture the effects associated with seasonal changes. Conducted in summer, the research could have been influenced by seasonality and weather, thereby limiting the assessment of how environmental changes across seasons affect social interactions in parks. Future research should encompass data from various seasons to better understand these dynamics and devise interventions that consider seasonal and weather variations. Third, the absence of a robust theoretical foundation might have overlooked key factors influencing variable relationships, resulting in endogeneity bias. Future studies should integrate diverse theoretical perspectives via in-depth analyses to build a more comprehensive framework. Finally, the widespread adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices means older adults are increasingly engaging with digital technologies. Exploring how digital technologies facilitate or hinder older adults’ physical social interactions in parks has become crucial. Additionally, investigating how urban park design and management can address the needs of diverse groups, including older adults with disabilities or cognitive impairments, is vital for future research.
