Third place visiting among mid-to-older adults: a cross-classified multilevel analysis

Visiting 'third places' outside of the home or workplace is associated with better health. For mid-to-older adults, visiting third places provides opportunities for social connectedness and physical activity that can support healthy ageing. We aimed to identify factors associated with visiting third places for social or physical activities, to understand how mid-to-older adults interact with places (e.g., green spaces, amenities) and inform interventions promoting social connectedness and physical activity.

Adults aged 55-75 years (n = 140) completed a social network and place visiting survey, reporting 475 visits to 368 unique places. Road network distance was calculated for all person-place combinations. Bayesian cross-classified multilevel logistic regression models were used to identify the person and place characteristics associated with whether a person visited a place (i.e., a person-place tie).

Larger social networks and more co-engagement in physical activity were associated with a greater probability of visiting third places. Better mental health significantly moderated the association between place proximity and place visiting. Higher loneliness significantly moderated the association between place type and place visiting, indicating that people with higher loneliness were more likely to visit public infrastructure such as libraries and community centres.

Policy initiatives should consider the accessibility of walkable places. In particular, mental health may act as a more significant barrier to access than geographic distance. Access to community resources, such as libraries and community centres, may be particularly important for mid-to-older adults experiencing loneliness. Interventions should aim to promote social participation in a range of accessible third places.