Perceptions and Uses of Public Open Spaces During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Prevention Measures as Endangering Possibilities of Active Ageing

Bibliographic Data

ID4817538
AuthorsXi Ye (0000-0001-8509-6336, Macau University of Science and Technology, corresponding author), Ke Chen (0000-0001-5310-5090, Macau University of Science and Technology), Jinxuan Chen (Macau University of Science and Technology), I-Tong Chan (Macau University of Science and Technology)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue2
Publication date2024-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/21582440241253340
OpenAlexW4399746034
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited80

Public open space is an essential component of support for active ageing in place, whilst in a high-density, high-rise housing context, it plays a more crucial role. The public health field has provided much research on the association between public open spaces and active ageing. However, changes to public open spaces during the Covid-19 crisis, including movement restriction, lockdown, social distancing and isolation, have a severe impact on the quality of life among the older group. This study examined the quality of life among older people living in densely populated districts during the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating how changes to public open spaces due to pandemic prevention impeded active ageing, and further explored pandemic-resilient urban strategies. Macau, a densely populated ageing city, was selected for case study. Forty-five in-depth interviews were conducted in two high-density districts of Macau with the aim of understanding the perceptions and uses of public open spaces among older people during pandemic conditions. The results indicate that the active ageing process has been impacted to a large degree by prevention measures, particularly in regard to movement and accessibility, everyday activities, social interaction, and emotional health. It is difficult for denser urban spaces to effectively guarantee an active life for older people during the emergent crisis. However, older people' adaptive responses to pandemic conditions have reduced the negative impact on active ageing. Moreover, the active ageing principle is not applicable to all, since subjective well-being can be perceived and defined differently, and people have unique aging principles as they age. It is important to pay more attention to the well-being of older people by exploring pandemic-resilient strategies which would take into account both the target of active ageing and pandemic prevention

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Pandemic · Perception · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Neuroscience · Nursing · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health · Virology

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