Community Vitality Research Articles

Gender differences in the effects of urban environment on nighttime exercise behaviours: a qualitative study.

With the acceleration of urbanization, nighttime exercise behaviours have rapidly emerged. Existing research indicates a correlation between urban environments and physical activity; however, studies focusing specifically on nighttime are still insufficient, particularly regarding gender differences. This study aims to identify the key factors in urban environments that influence residents' nighttime exercise behaviours and to explore the gender differences within these influences. Purposeful sampling was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with 30 residents who regularly engage in nighttime exercise. All transcribed interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological data analysis method. The findings revealed that physical environment and environmental perception are the two primary factors influencing nighttime exercise behaviour. These factors are further divided into 10 specific sub-themes: lighting, green spaces, site facilities and layout, traffic coherence, entertainment facilities, smart sports equipment, sense of safety, convenience, pleasure, and sense of belonging. Females demonstrate a heightened sensitivity to the perception of the physical environment, placing greater emphasis on the feelings and experiences it provides. Males, on the other hand, focus more on the direct impact of the physical environment, such as its specific effects on exercise performance. Future urban planning and public policy should give greater consideration to gender differences in the use of urban exercise facilities, ensuring that nighttime exercise environments meet the needs of residents of different genders. This approach will contribute to enhancing overall community vitality and improving residents' health.

Community Co-creation through knowledge (Co)Production: The engagement of universities in promoting rural revitalization in China

The global discourse on the role of universities in rural revitalization has gained significant attention. The proposition is to leverage university expertise and resources to support rural development, including knowledge (co)production, community co-creation, and volunteerism – a practice that essentially bridges local actors and their knowledge with external actors and their knowledge. As advocated by UN Habitat III, the collaboration between universities and rural communities is an initiative exemplified by China's “Jointly Create a Beautiful Environment and a Happy Life” to enhance the built environment. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the implementation and outcomes of the “Rural Four Small Gardens” projects, which serve as a vital community development initiative within the Hongtang Village in Fengqing County, Yunnan Province, China. The research discusses those processes, observing opportunities for knowledge (co)production across diverse stakeholders in line with neo-endogenous rural development thinking. By exploring the co-creation approach employed in these projects, we seek to unravel how academia and local communities collaborate to address multifaceted challenges in rural areas. We argue that: 1) The engagement of rural communities through collaborative planning workshops serves as the fundamental cornerstone for university paired-up assistance; 2) the co-creation model for improving rural settlement necessitates the collective efforts of multiple stakeholders; 3) university faculty and students play pivotal roles during the process of service learning, practice research, and knowledge (co)production with villagers; and 4) Knowledge (co)production entails a dynamic process of co-construction, co-governance, and resource sharing, exemplified by co-creation initiatives of home development, farmyard enhancement, and infrastructure projects. The research offers insights for global universities seeking to engage in similar paired-up assistance initiatives, underscores the significance of co-creation in rural development, and enlightens planning education in practice and service.

Improving community vitality: spiritually informed entrepreneurial actions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to depict how entrepreneurs improve community vitality in the economic, social and environmental dimensions. The paper joins the conversation of business spirituality as the study participants were Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs from the emerging venture context (i.e. from enterprises which are less than 1–10 years old). The aim of the paper is to introduce spiritually informed entrepreneurial actions, thus contributing to a better understanding of entrepreneurial impact on communities. Design/methodology/approach The paper involves a qualitative, interpretivist research design. Data was collected by conducting 28 semi-structured interviews with 18 Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs. Research participants were selected from diverse business sectors. The research applied inductive thematic analysis for structuring and interpreting data. Findings For Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs, improving community vitality is an essential altruistic goal of their business agenda. During the operations of their ventures, this altruistic goal is translated into altruistic actions that improve the economic, social and environmental vitalities of communities. Research findings highlight that in the case of Sri Lankan Buddhist entrepreneurs, altruistic actions are informed by compassion, which is a fundamental value in the Buddhist religion. Drawing on the findings, an integrated model of community vitality, which describes the role of compassion and the mechanisms of entrepreneurial actions in a Buddhist setting was developed inductively. Originality/value Studying entrepreneurial actions to focus on the motivations behind improving community vitality is a new research topic. The paper provides valuable knowledge on business spirituality regarding the compassionate motivations of Buddhist entrepreneurs. The integrated model of community vitality, which describes the mechanisms of entrepreneurial actions to improve community vitality in a Buddhist setting could be an essential compass not only to entrepreneurs but also research scholars in the field of business spirituality.

Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires

AbstractThis study investigates the adverse impact of community‐level wealth inequality in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and explores the role of community strength (i.e., community identification, cohesion, and identity continuity) in potentially mitigating these negative effects. Using geo‐targeted survey data from communities affected by the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia (N = 363), we found that greater perceived wealth inequality was associated with lower confidence that the community would make necessary changes to meet the threat of future bushfires, lower collective efficacy regarding future bushfires, and lower anticipated quality of life. However, we also found evidence some of these adverse effects were attenuated among those who reported higher levels of community identification and community cohesion. This study illustrates that problems posed by wealth inequality extend to the context of disaster recovery and climate change adaptation, and further underscores the socially mediated nature of this threat by demonstrating the potential for community strength to play a buffering role.

How do the elderly perceive their community vitality? Taking old and dilapidated communities (ODCs) in Guangzhou as a case to study

ABSTRACT As urbanisation accelerates and population ageing becomes inevitable, simultaneous ageing of communities and residents becomes prominent. Measuring the vitality of old and dilapidated communities (ODCs) from the perspective of older residents and analysing its influencing factors can help promote ageing-friendly renovation and sustainable urban development. This study used subjective and objective data collected from 53 communities in Guangzhou to measure vitality in three dimensions: population vitality, travel perception and spatial perception. Furthermore, structural equation modelling was applied to analyse the factors influencing the vitality of ODCs from an ageing perspective. The results revealed that spatial service has the most significant positive impact on the vitality of ODCs from the perspective of the elderly, followed by transportation, social behaviour and functional facility, while the basic feature has a less significant impact. Among them, the green landscape ratio, the number of intersections, accessibility, recreation facilities, elevator installation rate, the density of medical institutions and contacts with neighbourhood are influencing factors that have a strong effect on vitality. In addition, the five categories of factors are also influencing each other. This paper concluded by providing suggestions for corresponding vitality enhancement strategies.

Examining the relationship between pre-sport mega-event programming and physical activity participation

PurposeThe aim of the present study was to examine if interest in the 2022 World Cup and planned engagement in the pre-Qatar World Cup programming influenced both current and future informal and formal physical activity.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered using a survey conducted eight months prior to the World Cup, analyzing responses using four 2 × 2 analysis of variance (ANOVA) models. These models assessed the relationship between interest in the World Cup and planned engagement in pre-event activities with current and future formal and informal physical activity levels.FindingsThe findings of the current study suggest that engagement in sport programming pre-World Cup did not moderate the relationship between interest and physical activity. Engagement appears to play a direct role in physical activity, aligning with engagement theory, whereas interest plays a more direct role in spectator consumption. This highlights the importance of programming initiatives in enhancing physical activity, which is a critical aspect of the social impact of sport mega-events.Research limitations/implicationsThis study only focused on the residents of Qatar, and it may not be applicable to the future residents and location of the World Cup. Thus, further research should be conducted to see if this phenomenon can be observed and will exist in other host countries as well as with other sport mega-events. Additionally, our study was quantitative; it is suggested to perform a qualitative or mixed methods approach with a large sample size to obtain a more descriptive analysis that adds more depth to the connection between interest, engagement and physical activity of hosting a sport mega-event.Practical implicationsThe study’s implications suggest that host countries and event organizers can significantly impact residents’ physical activity by creating environments and opportunities that align with their intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness. For host countries and event organizers, these findings underscore the importance of pre-event planning, particularly in developing sports infrastructure, facilities and initiatives. Participating in sport programs can reflect positively on the economy by reducing healthcare and social service use, as well as increasing social engagement. Policymakers can leverage these findings to develop comprehensive strategies that promote physical activity in conjunction with sport events.Social implicationsThis study highlights the importance of programming initiatives in enhancing physical activity, which is a critical aspect of the social impact of sport mega-events. By leveraging pre-event programming, host countries can address public health concerns and enhance social well-being. The findings suggest a positive relationship between sports programming engagement and increased physical activity among residents, contributing to improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.Originality/valueThe findings of this study will contribute to the literature and advance our knowledge regarding the relationship between hosting a sport mega-event and physical activity participation by understanding pre-event impacts. This research offers valuable insights for event organizers and policymakers, highlighting the importance of fostering environments that motivate active participation and contribute to the long-term health and vitality of communities.

Planning guidance to limit hot food takeaways: Understanding the possible economic impacts

Local and national policymakers are seeking innovative solutions to create healthier food environments around the world. Between 2009 and 2017, 35 local authorities across England (UK) adopted planning guidance designed to limit the proliferation of hot food takeaways near schools. Whilst these policies are intended to improve population health, they are also likely to have economic impacts. Often a decision to introduce such policies comes down to consideration of whether the short-term economic imperatives of allowing new takeaway outlets to open outweighs the potential long-term public health implications and associated economic consequences. These potential negative and positive economic impacts have not previously been clearly described and are summarised here. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the potential economic impacts of takeaway management zones. In particular, we present a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) that outlines the possible economic impacts of takeaway management zones based on researcher knowledge of the interventions and the industry. Potential negative impacts fall across sectors and may include a loss of employment opportunities and reductions in local and national tax receipts, and may impact the economic vitality of local communities. In the longer term, there is the potential for positive impacts such as reductions in healthcare resource utilisation, social care expenditure and sickness-related absence from work. Part of a robust case would a better economic understanding, that would enable local authorities to improve understanding of the trade-offs associated with the policy, such as short-versus long-term, and business-related versus society-related health benefits and costs.

Internal migration and multidimensional wellbeing: a case study of North-South migration in Ghana

Abstract Migration is widely regarded as a principal form of activity available to many of the world’s poor to improve their household’s standard of living. This paper investigates whether and in what ways internal migrants benefit from moving within Ghana’s North-South migration context. This research uses an innovative multidimensional wellbeing framework to assess the effects of migration on migrants’ wellbeing based on six domains: living standards, health, education, community vitality, environmental resilience, and governance. The wellbeing survey of 251 northern Ghanaian migrants working in the informal economic sector within the Sunyani municipality discovered that although most migrants reported improved living standards, a majority could not attain overall wellbeing due to low health and education wellbeing scores. Exploring the relationship between income and wellbeing across domains, the study found a weak positive association, and the complex interplay of factors beyond income was evident. This study challenges the conventional perspective that equates income with the attainment of wellbeing and argues that a multidimensional wellbeing framework permits a more nuanced understanding of the impacts of migration. It highlights the need for the government to actively monitor and address the wellbeing of internal migrants within the Ghanaian context.

Assessing the Impact of Technology on Church Services and Youth Engagement

The advent of technology has revolutionized many aspects of human life, including the operation and engagement methods of religious institutions. Historically, church services were confined to physical spaces, limiting congregational engagement to in-person attendance. Traditional worship, involving sermons, hymns, and communal activities, fostered a sense of community and spiritual enrichment. However, declining attendance in traditional settings necessitates the integration of modern digital tools to revitalize worship experiences and engage tech-savvy youth. This study explores the transformative impact of technology on church services, particularly its effectiveness in engaging younger congregants, through a quantitative survey of church leaders, technology experts, and congregants across various denominations. The research examines the adoption and impact of digital innovations such as live-streaming, social media outreach, mobile apps, and multimedia worship formats. Findings highlight enhanced accessibility, participation, and connection, making faith more relevant to younger generations. Challenges such as the potential dilution of spiritual experiences and the digital divide are also identified. Applying the Diffusion of Innovations theory, the study underscores the need for strategic, thoughtful integration of technology that balances modern conveniences with core religious values, bridging generational gaps and ensuring the continued vitality of religious communities in the digital age.

Digital nomads: a systematic literature review and future research agenda

Purpose This study aims to address the need for robust conceptual foundations in the digital nomadism discourse through a systematic literature review (SLR). It delves into digital nomadism within sustainable tourism, providing valuable insights to foster community development. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a rigorous eight-step process that combines an SLR and a system dynamics approach. In the SLR phase, the authors use the theory, context, characteristics and methodology framework to identify key variables for a dynamic model of sustainable tourism through digital nomadism, following detailed search and selection criteria based on PRISMA guidelines. The second phase uses causal loop diagrams (CLDs) from the literature review to visualize relationships and inform future research directions. The CLD model is validated through literature-based and stakeholder interaction processes, focusing on the social, economic and environmental dimensions, resulting in the development of a robust conceptual model. Findings This study identified 28 theories, including agency–structure theory, travel career ladder theory, stakeholder theory and grounded theory, among others. Semi-structured interviews were the primary research method. Major themes explored encompass community interactions, work lifestyles, cultural aspects, financial considerations, infrastructure and policy. The proposed conceptual model aims to scrutinize relationships across economic, environmental and social dimensions, providing a foundation for investigating and promoting sustainable tourism. Research limitations/implications Policy implications involve refining taxation policies to maintain tax bases, promoting collaborative economic models and enforcing environmental regulations. Additionally, integrating community planning infrastructure and implementing demographic strategies to manage potential population shifts are crucial. Policies supporting education, skill transfer, health and well-being initiatives contribute significantly to fostering sustainable tourism practices and enhancing community vitality. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in the digital nomadism space to propose a conceptual model for sustainable tourism adoption.

A GIS methodology for mapping regional and community vitality for Canada using the CanEcumene 3.0 Geodatabase with census data

Many ecosystem-based management (EBM) and related applications require integrating geospatial information about socio-economic conditions of human populated areas within a study area. However, integrating socio-economic data in such a way that it can be related to ecological data is challenging due to issues associated with spatial representation between socio-economic and ecological data frameworks. In Canada, this problem is particularly acute given its large geographic size, diversity of environments and highly irregular population distribution. Although several indices have been developed for Canada related to well-being and vulnerability, their suitability for EBM-related applications is limited. This article presents a GIS-based methodology for mapping regional and community vitality index (RVI/CVI) for Canada using standard Census data integrated with the CanEcumene 3.0 Geospatial Database (GDB). The method uses percentile ranks of five sub-indicators of vitality covering population growth, age structure, education, employment and economic wealth. Results reveal a number of notable patterns and trends in socio-economic conditions across the country and across different types of communities and regions. Most notable are decreasing CVI values from economic core regions to rural and remote communities; decreasing scores from high population centres to lower populated areas and lower scores for Indigenous communities when compared with non-Indigenous communities. A series of maps show variation in RVI/CVI values for specific locations with changes over time.

FEATURES OF TERRITORY MANAGEMENT DURING MARITAL STATE IN UKRAINE

The article discusses the current problems of territory management in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has been going on for two years. A description of the real state of territorial communities is offered, their problems caused by the war are outlined. A cluster model of the distribution of territorial communities depending on the situation during the war is presented. Possible ways of solving the main problems arising in the management of territories during martial law are determined. The article emphasizes that Russia's war against Ukraine, which has been going on for two years, has become the sharpest and most dangerous test of Ukrainian society since independence. Virtually all state and public institutions and organizations, government and executive institutions underwent significant changes in form and content. This especially applies to territorial communities, which, despite their short existence, have actually become the centers of the reconstruction of Ukrainian civil society on the lines of martial law. Territorial communities shouldered the main burden of volunteer assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and territorial defense, reception and accommodation of forced migrants, provision of humanitarian aid, educational, medical, legal, communal services, organization of business and employment, as well as mobilization work. The article notes that under the conditions of martial law, the forms and content of territory management activities, in particular municipal management bodies, have changed: military-civilian administrations have appeared in regions and former districts. During the two years of the war, the functions and boundaries of the administrative activities of local self-government bodies were agreed upon, taking into account the challenges that were caused by the full-scale aggression of Russia. The article notes that the burden of the war had the greatest impact on the stability and vitality of territorial communities. Despite the fact that today it is generally possible to positively evaluate the administrative-territorial reform that was carried out on the eve of the war, territorial communities are in unequal conditions of life, have different possibilities of functioning, and require management decisions that are adequate to the real situation. The article emphasizes that the primary task at the moment is to improve relations between the central government and local self-government bodies, taking into account the actual military, economic, demographic, social, political, and humanitarian situation. We are talking about a significant expansion of the powers of territorial communities in all spheres of social life. It is impossible to rule in wartime by peaceful methods. This is all the more important because the administrative and territorial reform depends on the results at the front.

Impact of Ocean Acidification on Plankton – A Short Review

“Ocean acidification” (OA) is a result of global warming, which describes a long-term drop in the pH of the ocean, mostly due to the ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Plankton, a diverse collection of tiny organisms, are decisive in supporting marine and freshwater food webs living at and beneath the surface of lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans across the planet. Recently this vital community has been severely affected due to ocean acidification, which has forced it to either die or they are migrating significantly as OA intensifies. This review provides a concise overview of the impacts of ocean acidification (OA) and other environmental factors on plankton communities thereby highlighting the necessity of conducting comprehensive assessments to provide insights into the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.

Deriving and Verifying a Community Vitality Index through a Machine Learning Model Based on House Price Data

Recognizing the complexity and limitations of the approach to produce a traditional Multi-dimensional Community Index (MD-CVI) as well as high cost and time-intensive, the study explores another approach that establishes a machine-learning model to derive a community index by leveraging contemporary house prices. This method has several significant advantages over traditional methods, providing a more efficient and reliable way to assess community well-being. The model produces a dynamic Community Vitality Index (CVI) that quickly captures changes within a community and enhances the MD-CVI’s sophistication by selecting and combining any geographic regions generated by clustering algorithms, employing machine learning model and house sold price reduces human errors from questionnaires, and potentially improves accuracy. The study also exemplified and verified the model via house data from Minnesota, Texas, and Connecticut, spanning the last five years. Subsequently, comparing the house-price-based CVI with traditional MD-CVIs reveals a consistent alignment in their community index rankings. The conclusion is that the house-price-based CVI, as second research, is a viable proxy and a benchmark for a traditional MD-CVI, indicating an innovative approach for the stakeholders, including the government, education institutions, health and welfare organizations, etc. in assessing community well-being and making informed policy decisions regarding the flow of public funding of community-based projects. This research has the potential to significantly impact policy decisions, ensuring that public funding is directed to the communities that need it most.

Procedural justice, neighborhood opportunities and police legitimacy

PurposeRecent scholarship calls for identifying conditions in which procedurally just treatment translate to increased police legitimacy. The present study draws on community justice and vitality and procedural justice literature to examine whether adolescent and young adults’ perceptions of legitimate work and school opportunities in their neighborhoods moderate the effects of fair treatment by police on perceptions of police legitimacy.Design/methodology/approachLongitudinal data from a justice-involved youth sample and a series of generalized linear mixed models are used to test the study’s hypotheses. We model “persons as contexts” and separate within-person and between-person effects.FindingsMain effects models indicate that procedural justice and neighborhood opportunities both have significant within-individual, between-individual and person-contextual effects on police legitimacy. Results from interaction models indicate strong support for a person-contextual interaction effect. Net of covariates, higher average perceptions of procedurally just treatment leads to greater average police legitimacy, but this effect erodes when individuals perceive weak educational and occupational opportunities in their neighborhoods over time.Originality/valueEfforts to maximize police legitimacy may be enhanced through greater investment in community opportunity structures. This study highlights the need for public officials and police to support the educational and occupational vitality of communities as a key strategy to promote police legitimacy and optimize core aspects of the procedural justice model.

Mended Windows, Not Broken Windows: A Du Boisian Analysis of Urban Policing

This study draws from W. E. B. Du Boi’s urban sociology in The Philadelphia Negro, Darkwater, and Black Reconstruction in America to offer a conceptual foil to present-day broken windows policing. We suggest that the Chicago School’s ecological model of urban life facilitated a broken windows approach to policing by labeling people and places as disordered but also that a Du Boisian approach—what we call “mended windows”—offers new ways of addressing underlying inequalities that reproduce harm. After drawing out the distinct intellectual trajectories of these two approaches, we turn to two contemporary cases of racialized police violence—Syracuse, NY, and the Antelope Valley, CA—to illustrate the theoretical and methodological significance of a Du Boisian mended windows analysis of urban policing across time and place. We conclude by considering what this approach might have foretold about contemporary movements to defund policing in favor of investing in community vitality.

Revitalizing the Street Market: A Case of Gujarat Colony, Kothrud, Pune

In the face of burgeoning digital marketplaces, traditional street markets across India are struggling to maintain their vibrancy and economic viability. This research delves into the case of the Gujarat Colony street market in Kothrud, Pune, to explore the challenges faced by such markets and propose potential revitalization strategies. The research employs a primary survey approach to gather insights from both vendors and customers. This comprehensive data collection aims to identify the key issues plaguing the market's functionality, encompassing aspects like customer circulation, parking availability, and vendor stall allocation. By analyzing these factors, the study seeks to identify bottlenecks hindering the market's performance and formulate targeted revitalization plans. The revitalization framework developed through this research will not only address the specific needs of the Gujarat Colony market but also provide valuable insights applicable to similar street markets across India. The proposed solutions have the potential to enhance the physical layout of the market, improve customer and vendor experience, and ultimately ensure the continued success of these vital community spaces.

Where Should Senior Welfare Centers Stand in Older Adult Care in South Korea?

Senior Welfare Centers, the vital community facilities known mostly as leisure venues for older adults in South Korea, are expanding their roles as older adult care providers to respond to the aging population. However, their roles remain unclear, which makes it difficult to utilize their potential and establish a position in older adult care. This study conducted qualitative research to clarify and seek the role of Senior Welfare Centers by exploring their experiences in two major older adult care services, Community Care and Customized Care, through a focus group interview conducted with 13 Senior Welfare Center professionals. Using qualitative thematic analysis, the findings resulted in two main themes: (1) experiences of Community Care and Customized Care and (2) redefining the role of Senior Welfare Centers in older adult care. Nine subthemes presented limitations in the care system and possible strategies to ameliorate the care roles of Senior Welfare Centers. The findings indicate recommendations at the facility, client, and governmental levels for Senior Welfare Centers to reestablish their position in older adult care. The study recommends future research to study policies and care services maximizing strengths and potentials of Senior Welfare Centers to redesign optimized older adult care in South Korea.

A Study on the Extraction of Community Vitalization Factors of Residents Living in Public Rental Elderly Housing

A Study on the Extraction of Community Vitalization Factors of Residents Living in Public Rental Elderly Housing

Reimagining Public Spaces in the Post-Pandemic Era; New Approach to Community Spaces

The vitality of a city hinges on the vibrant activities propelled by its residents, whose needs should be paramount in urban planning endeavors. Central to a city's essence is its capacity to cultivate lively public realms where interactions are meaningful and enriching. Local hubs such as streets and markets serve as pivotal nodes for community engagement, frequented by inhabitants for various purposes. Elevating the quality of these public spaces transcends the mere pursuit of iconic architectural landmarks. Amidst the backdrop of ongoing urban growth and evolution, cities often grapple with adaptivity challenges, resulting in their gradual degradation. An ideal public space should exhibit adaptability to the ever-changing environmental, social, cultural, and economic landscapes. Thus, the crux lies in designing public spaces that are not only sustainable but also adept at accommodating the evolving dynamics within the urban fabric, including the post-COVID-19 effects on human interaction. This necessitates a thoughtful approach to revitalizing public markets, considering factors such as social distancing measures, sanitation protocols, and shifts in consumer behavior towards online shopping, while still preserving their essence as vital community spaces. Keywords: Public realms, Pivotal nodes, Adaptive use, COVID-19, Revitalizing