"There's a Bit of a Ripple-effect": A Social Identity Perspective on the Role of Third-Places and Aging in Place. Issue 5 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fong, Polly; Haslam, Catherine; Cruwys, Tegan; Haslam, S. Alexander
• Is Part Of: Environment and behavior. Volume 53:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 540
• Page End: 568
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: aging in place -- social identity -- community spaces -- third-places -- wellbeing; Human ecology -- Periodicals; 304.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0013916520947109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-9165

Abstract

Urban sociology highlights an important role that a city's social infrastructure, or "third-places, " play in supporting healthy communities. Informed by social identity theorizing, this study explores when and why older adults engage with third-places and how a sense of wellbeing can be derived from their participation. Focus-group interviews were conducted with a sample of community-dwelling older adults ( N = 31) to examine the nature of one such third-place, a suburban neighborhood bridge club. Thematic analysis suggests that (a) the socio-spatial context of third-places can both enable and restrict participation, (b) third-places can support positive social identities (as bridge players, club members, locals), (c) enacting these identities in third-places facilitates a sense of wellbeing, and (d) third-places are potential connectors to the wider community. We discuss the policy implications for the development of age-friendly cities and the role of social identity processes in engaging with community groups in third-places.