title: Socio-Spatial Integration of Older Adults in Four Types of Residential Environments in Israel.
abstract: The socio-spatial integration of older people in different types of residential environments is a key factor affecting the well-being of older people. This study, which included a convenience sample of 565 participants, examined the socio-spatial integration of older people living in two different regional areas (central and peripheral) and four different residential environments (metropolitan hub, city, and town and rural settlements) in Israel. Willing participants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Socio-spatial integration was assessed by recognition of their neighbors and sense of belonging to the residential environment. The findings show that older adults who resided in the town and in rural settlements were more socio-spatially integrated in their living environments compared with their counterparts who resided in cities. The best predictors of socio-spatial integration were a combination of personal characteristics and characteristics of the environment (perceived accessibility) except for rural settlements, where none of the variables predicted socio-spatial integration.
authors.affiliation: 1 Haifa University, Kazrin, Israel.
authors.forename: Adi Vitman
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schorr
authors.affiliation: 2 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iecovich
authors.affiliation: 2 Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Nurit
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alfasi
authors.affiliation: 3 Tel Hai College, Israel.
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shamai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: older adults; socio-spatial integration; types of residential environment