Evaluation of the views of elderly people on urban green spaces

Authors : Muhammet Kesin, Batuhan Horasan

Pages : 129-150

Doi:10.31198/idealkent.1730436

View : 230 | Download : 353

Publication Date : 2025-11-07

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Considering the health benefits that green spaces provide to individuals, our study aims to evaluate the opinions of elderly individuals regarding green spaces and to shed light on strategies for ensuring their effective use. This study was conducted using qualitative research methods. Participants were determined using purposive sampling and consisted of individuals aged 65 and over living in the Safranbolu district. Due to data redundancy, interviews were concluded with 28 participants. Inclusion criteria were being 65 years of age or older and residing in Safranbolu. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using content analysis with Maxqda software. Findings revealed that urban green spaces are used more during the afternoon hours and contribute to individuals\\\' psychosocial and physical health. Additionally, participants were negatively affected by social isolation and psychological factors during the pandemic. Urban green space deficiencies affected usage, with the most significant being infrastructure and access issues. Urban green spaces play an important role in increasing physical activity and psychosocial health of the elderly. Ensuring effective use requires necessary infrastructure improvements, safety measures, and addressing identified deficiencies. Creating more accessible and safe urban green spaces for the elderly is of great importance for ageing societies.
Keywords : Yaşlı bireyler, kentsel yeşil alanlar, halk sağlığı.

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