Gender Differences of the Elderly on the Social and Perceptual Dimensional Interaction in Neighbourhood Park: A Case Study of Beijing

Social interaction is crucial for social sustainability and quality of life. This research focuses on recreational parks in residential neighborhoods in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA) to enhance social interaction. The study is designed to identify and prioritize factors affecting social interaction in the recreational parks in the residential neighborhoods in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). All factors are extracted from literature studies relevant to social interaction among individuals in recreational parks. This study follows the methodology of an expert-based questionnaire to weigh each factor according to a scale from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” regarding the extracted factors that may influence social interaction in recreational parks. The findings emphasized the importance of the demographic characteristics of neighborhood residents, the physical characteristics of recreational parks, and social sustainability characteristics in influencing social interaction among neighborhood residents in the recreational parks in the DMA. The analysis of the demographic characteristics showed that the age group of the neighborhood residents is the most effective factor on social interaction in the recreational parks in DMA, with a score of 4.53. Secondly, the analysis of the physical characteristics of the recreational parks showed that the periodic maintenance of the recreational park is the most effective factor on social interaction in DMA, with a score of 4.79. Thirdly, the analysis of social sustainability characteristics showed that safety and security is the most effective factor on social interaction in the recreational parks in DMA, with a score of 4.74. Finally, this study concluded with some recommendations to address the probable factors that may influence social interaction in the recreational parks in the Saudi context, particularly in DMA.

PurposePromoting social interaction contributes to social sustainability in the urban setting. And, legibility is one of the key qualities of successful urban places. This research aims to examine the impacts of legibility and the quality of seating areas on the level of engagement with place as well as social interaction.Design/methodology/approachThe levels of social interaction in different public spaces of the selected neighbourhood were observed. On this basis, the neighbourhood park and neighbourhood entry plaza were selected. A sample of 234 people was determined and a quantitative approach was used to examine the objectives.FindingsInhabitants were more interested in passive engagement with place. Certain cultural and spatial attributes contribute to enhancing social interaction. Legibility was poorly recognizable especially due to the weak level of visibility. The quality and quantity of seating area provision as well as visual connectivity are to be improved so that the legibility as well as the social interaction enhances. Finally, the implications in regards the prospect-refuge theory were described.Originality/valuePromoting social interaction has been less regarded by urban planners and policy makers in the context of Asian cities. In a historical context with a mix of native-born citizens and immigrants, where different types of crime exist and it suffers from illegible structure in its different parts, understanding the urban design interventions of engagement with place as well as social interaction is an important subject. Policy makers may apply these findings to improve the positive social interactions in such residential neighbourhoods.

The rapid urbanization of Chinese cities has intensified the demand for age-friendly public spaces that promote health and social engagement among the elderly. This research investigates the complex relationships among environmental attributes, perceived well-being, and social interaction in Chengdu’s neighborhood parks, using Space Syntax analysis as a core methodological framework. A total of 287 elderly individuals were surveyed across six neighborhood parks, selected to represent varying spatial structures and amenity quality. Environmental configuration was quantified using Space Syntax metrics such as integration, connectivity, and visual accessibility. Simultaneously, structured observations and on-site questionnaires captured data on social interaction patterns and perceived well-being. The data analysis using structural equation modeling (SEM) and statistical methods, including Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression, was used to assess relationships between spatial configuration, perceived well-being, and social interaction frequency. The results showed strong positive effects of social interaction (β = 0.44) and environmental quality (β = 0.42) on perceived well-being (p < 0.001). All constructs demonstrated high reliability (α = 0.81–0.88) and valid factor structures, confirming model strength. Furthermore, an SEM analysis showed that this mediation was moderated by interaction type, with family-based interactions exerting a stronger influence on well-being compared to friend-based ones. This research provides empirical evidence that spatially well-integrated and visually accessible park environments significantly enhance social cohesion and subjective well-being among the elderly. These findings offer critical insights for designing inclusive, age-friendly public spaces that support active and healthy aging in urban China.

Legibility of neighborhood parks as a predicator for enhanced social interaction towards social sustainability

Purpose This study examines how social interaction and emotional states shape residents’ behavioral decision-making regarding energy-efficiency retrofit (EER) of existing residential buildings, aiming to promote EER acceptance and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Design/methodology/approach A multi-agent simulation model grounded in social interaction theory and overreaction theory was developed to analyze residents’ EER decision-making. The model integrates residents’ self-assessment, social interaction and emotional states, capturing their dynamic evolution over time. Behavioral evolution was further illustrated through the analysis of fluctuation patterns in simulation curves. Findings Social interaction significantly enhances EER acceptance by strengthening observational learning and demonstration effects. However, high network connectivity and strong emotional sensitivity can amplify short-term fluctuations, exhibiting a “double-edged sword” effect. Costs of EER implementation and maintenance exert the strongest influence on residents’ decisions, whereas visible and immediate government subsidies effectively trigger short-term participation. In contrast, indirect benefits, such as house appreciation and environmental benefits, exert comparatively limited impact under the model’s baseline parameterization. Originality/value This study provides a novel analytical framework by integrating social interaction and emotional states into the analysis of residents’ EER behaviors. It addresses a gap in existing research, which often neglects the psychological and social dimensions of behavioral decision-making in energy efficiency contexts. The findings offer actionable insights for designing effective policies to foster EER acceptance, emphasizing the importance of social networks and emotional dynamics in shaping collective behaviors.

Purpose Consumers are inclined to join longer queues due to social interactions in service consumptions. This purchase behavior brings in operational challenges in terms of capacity planning, which affects consumers’ demand, leading to an unstable and fluctuated arrival process. This paper aims to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the arrival process of a service system with boundedly rational consumers whose purchase decisions are influenced by the queue length under social interactions. Design/methodology/approach Consumers’ bounded rationality is modeled based on the random utility theory. Due to social interactions, the equilibrium queue length and its interaction with the expected waiting time affect consumers’ value perception. The authors first analyze the optimal service capacity decision with or without considering the influence of social interactions in a static setting. They then focus on the dynamic characteristics of the arrival process by a one-dimensional dynamical model in terms of the arrival rate. Findings This paper finds that the service system can behave chaotic in terms of arrival rate dynamics under social interactions. The results highlight the dynamical complexity of a simple service system due to consumers’ behavioral factors and the influence of social interactions, which may be the critical drivers leading to fluctuated and uneven demand. Originality/value The findings demonstrate that due to consumers’ limited cognitive ability and the influence of social interactions, the demand to a service system can be stable, periodic or even chaotic in terms of the arrival process. This study provides an alternative explanation to the observed demand fluctuations in various service processes under the influence of social interactions, which is important for service providers to effectively manage service capacity to achieve a stable service process and improve operational efficiency.

Neighbourhood parks play a vital role in fostering vibrant and sustainable communities, promoting healthy lifestyles and social interactions among residents. However, the underlying factors influencing user attitudes towards neighbourhood parks in Nairobi City have not been identified. These latent factors serve as attractions that draw city residents into the parks, engaging with them continually to meet their recreational and social needs. This paper aims to identify the key factors that affect the affective component of attitudes formed after visual exposure to the attitude object, the neighbourhood park. It adopts a quantitative approach to data collection by surveying eight residential neighbourhood parks. A total of 416 park users were interviewed between July and August 2024, during which they rated thirty attitude statements on a seven-point Likert scale. To ensure diversity among park users, interviews were conducted at each park three times a day on one weekday and one weekend day. Exploratory Factor Analysis of the attitudinal statements revealed five underlying factors—complexity, richness, comfort, coherence, and legibility—that influence user attitudes towards neighbourhood parks. The paper recommends conducting a user needs assessment before park design to identify spatial attributes that encourage positive affective attitudes. Additionally, it suggests providing a range of park amenities and allocating a budget for park maintenance in park management plans.

The people living in today's era are inseparable from the internet. Since the emergence of the internet with adequate access, various aspects of community life have changed drastically and dramatically. This phenomenon is often seen especially among students and teenagers, greatly influencing the social interaction process, resulting in a tendency to play online games significantly. This research discusses the influence of social interaction among adolescent users of online games at Triguna Utama Ciputat High School. The research problem formulation is first, whether there is an influence of online game addiction on adolescent behavior at Triguna Utama Ciputat High School. Second, whether there is an influence of student social interaction on students addicted to online games at Triguna Utama Ciputat High School. The aim is to determine the influence of online game addiction on adolescent behavior at Triguna Utama Ciputat High School, and secondly, to determine the influence of social interaction on students addicted to playing online games at Triguna Utama Ciputat High School. The method used in this research is qualitative method. The result of this study show that use of online game affect teenagers social interactions through action using symbols, meaning, and cues.

This study aims to analyze the influence of leadership and social interaction on employee performance, with work motivation serving as a mediating variable, at the South Makassar Primary Tax Office. The background of this research is based on the phenomenon of low employee performance, which is influenced not only by leadership factors but also by social interactions among employees and the motivation they possess. The research employed a quantitative approach using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) as the analysis technique. Data were collected through questionnaires distributed to employees of the South Makassar Primary Tax Office, who served as the research respondents. The results of the study indicate that: (1) leadership has a negative and insignificant effect on employee performance; (2) social interaction has a positive and significant effect on employee performance; (3) work motivation has a positive and significant effect on employee performance; (4) leadership has a positive and significant effect on work motivation; (5) social interaction has a positive and significant effect on work motivation; (6) leadership has a positive and significant effect on employee performance through work motivation; and (7) social interaction has a positive and significant effect on employee performance through work motivation. The conclusion of this study is that work motivation serves as a key mediating variable, bridging the influence of leadership and social interaction on employee performance. Therefore, improving employee performance can be achieved by strengthening work motivation through inspirational leadership and harmonious social interaction within the organization.

Several studies in the literature have emphasized that public open spaces, such as recreational parks in residential neighborhoods, play a crucial role in enhancing social interaction among residents. As such, access to these parks is a key factor that may influence their use and, in turn, affect the quality of social engagement within the community. Traditional approaches to park accessibility, which focus solely on physical distance, have notable limitations, as proximity alone does not reliably predict park usage. Therefore, physical accessibility should be complemented by assessments of perceived or psychological accessibility. This study is designed to propose a framework for enhancing social interaction through improved access to recreational parks in the residential neighborhoods of the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA). It employs a mixed-methods approach comprising two primary methodologies: (1) observational behavioral mapping to identify key influencing factors based on user activities within the selected case study areas, and (2) an end-user questionnaire survey analyzed through inferential statistics, specifically Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), to assess residents’ perceptions of park accessibility and social interaction. The results indicate that adequate park maintenance significantly improves physical accessibility, while elements such as safety are essential for fostering psychological comfort. The ANOVA results yielded an F-value of 4.72 and a p-value of 0.00, confirming a statistically significant effect of the park’s physical features on facilitating social contact among local residents. The study presents a framework that integrates key demographic and social factors influencing park usage, advocating for infrastructure improvements aligned with user perceptions to foster greater community engagement. It highlights that addressing psychological barriers is just as important as making physical enhancements to achieve effective park accessibility. By combining physical design, demographic insights, and user experiences, the framework serves as a practical guide for planning inclusive and socially responsive public spaces. This research contributes to the fields of urban planning, social sustainability, and environmental psychology by offering localized insights and practical tools for implementation. Future research is recommended to further refine urban strategies that promote equitable access to recreational parks, particularly by addressing demographic-specific needs and psychological barriers that influence social interaction in open spaces.

Social connections are important for the quality of life of individuals living with dementia. As dementia progresses, maintaining these connections becomes challenging: especially in nursing homes, social interactions are often reduced. Small-scale, homelike environments such as green care farms (GCFs) may provide opportunities to facilitate social interactions. However, research on the characteristics of social interactions and their effects on mood is limited in these settings. This paper explored social interactions and their impact on mood over time in individuals with dementia living in GCFs. This observational study used ecological momentary assessments to gather repeated measurement data on individuals' experiences in everyday environments. The data were collected for a total of 151 residents living at four GCFs in the Netherlands. The residents' social interactions and mood were assessed using the Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation Tool (n=4868 observations). Social interactions occurred in less than half of the observations, indicating that residents spent the other half of their day without social interactions. The most common interactions included one resident and another person (e.g., staff members or other residents); these interactions were primarily positive. Overall, having social interactions was significantly related to a higher mood. However, social interactions did not have a significant effect on subsequent mood. The results highlight the importance of social interactions for residents' mood. Long-term care organizations should facilitate opportunities for meaningful social interaction to support the immediate mood and thus the well-being of residents with dementia.

The research reported in this thesis aimed to develop a better understanding about the nature and purpose of older people’s social interactions in their local neighbourhood shops, and how the interactions may be associated with their well-being. A review of the literature indicated that older people’s interactions in their local neighbourhood shops had not been sufficiently investigated empirically. A subsequent appraisal of journal articles concerned with older people’s social networks indicated that the extant knowledge-base had been informed by approaches that tended to reinforce a notion that older people socialised mainly with family and friends. Such approaches were largely quantitative in nature, and commonly employed closed questions, network mapping, pre-determined typologies, or large non-purpose-collected data bases. My study employed classic grounded theory (Glaser, 1978), an interpretive, exploratory, inductive methodology which involves a rigorous method designed to develop conceptual theory. The theoretical sample comprised 11 people who were 67 years of age or older, and six shopkeepers recruited from a local shopping precinct situated in a middle-class south-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and observations in local shops. Analysis of these data indicated that the older shoppers’ social interactions in and around their local shops enabled them to display their capabilities, reinforce their identities, scrutinise their neighbourhood, exercise choice, and generally be involved in their community. Moreover, the purpose of these interactions was revealed. Conceptualised as Consolidation, it accounted for the participants’ main concerns; strengthening their community standing, and preserving the milieu of their local shops with a view to sustaining their ongoing independence. The succinct theory that conceptualised their approach was coined Civic Socialising. This research has made a considerable contribution to the extant knowledge-base about the social relationships of older people with others who are not family or friends. It has highlighted the proactive nature of such social interactions which can enhance self-esteem and autonomy. This new understanding need be considered in future research that is concerned with the social relationships of older people. The study findings also have significance for policy and social planning that are pertinent to older people, particularly considering an increased focus on them remaining in their communities for as long as possible. We now know how an existing resource, the local neighbourhood shop, can enable older people to remain engaged in community life, and help to look after themselves. Accordingly, at the time of writing this thesis, the findings had been adopted by local government to assist social planning for older people. The new theory can be tested, or may stimulate future enquiry. For example: Does the conceptual theory Civic Socialising involve different nuances in other neighbourhoods? Could a similar beneficial effect be gained where local shops were introduced or reinstated? The study was subject to limitations. Conducting a literature review and tape-recording participants’ interviews are counter to the tenets of classic grounded theory. The use of an explanatory statement may have affected the participants’ behaviour or responses. However, these approaches were in accordance with Monash University’s regulations.

Neighbourhood parks are designed to provide opportunities for leisure and communal activities for the residents. However, studies have indicated that social interactions in these spaces are not at a satisfactory level. In the urban design context, a good public space should be legible to the observers. Legibility refers to the apparent clarity of the cityscape that directs people’s movement, pattern of activities and form of interaction in public spaces. This paper discusses park’s legibility and its impact on social interaction within a neighbourhood. The results presented are based on a questionnaire survey and a mental mapping exercise conducted with residents in the city of Putrajaya, Malaysia. The results demonstrate a strong relationship between the park’s legibility and the social interactions among the park users. A clear structure of the setting and fewer sight obstacles found within the parks influence residents’ pattern and the Intensity of outdoor activities. The findings contribute to the development of legible environments in neighbourhood park design, its positive impact on social interaction, and social bonding among the residents.

This research assesses the involvement of green urban spaces in creating social interaction among the residents of a neighborhood. It emphasizes the significance of urban parks, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia’s New Vision 2030, and showcases the proactive approach of Jubail Industrial City in planning and distributing parks. The study delves into the legibility of parks, exploring factors that impact user experiences, including accessibility and amenities. It highlights how park design can influence social interactions. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of social interaction within neighborhood parks, especially among diverse cultural and age groups. The results prove to be a significant output for future use in enhancing the quality of green spaces and providing efficient means of social interaction among people. The study’s findings, such as increased social interaction with diverse amenities and improved safety perceptions, contribute to sustainable urban planning by fostering social cohesion, enhancing ecological benefits through tree cover, and building community resilience, aligning with Vision 2030’s sustainability goals. Recommendations are provided to improve the park user experience and promote increased utilization of neighborhood parks.

Dado el aumento demográfico de la población adulta mayor y el incremento proyectado para los próximos años, surge la necesidad de estudiar todos aquellos factores que puedan ejercer una influencia sobre el bienestar de los adultos mayores, razón por la cual, en el presente estudio se planteó el objetivo de analizar las variables psicosociales intervinientes en el envejecimiento exitoso. Las bases de datos utilizadas para la revisión sistemática fueron Taylor and Francis; Web of Science; Scopus y Pubmed. Las palabras utilizadas en la búsqueda fueron: "old age”, older adults","elderly","late life", "successful aging”, "social interactions", "social life", "psychosocial factors" y "psychosocial" y los conectores booleanos utilizados fueron “AND” y “OR”. Los resultados fueron sistematizados a través del esquema PRISMA, de lo cual se obtuvo un número final de 18 artículos. Los resultados obtenidos se orientaron principalmente hacia la influencia de las interacciones sociales, la situación económica y la salud, sobre la percepción de los adultos mayores acerca del envejecimiento exitoso. Se concluye que el goce de una buena salud, mayores ingresos económicos y la participación social son factores intervinientes en el envejecimiento exitoso.