Table 1.
Operational definitions of potential domains of SANa
| SN | Domain | Definition (reference) | Key attributes/examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walkability | |||
| 1 | High residential density | A compact neighborhood characterized by 12 to 25 dwelling units per gross acre of land (Mitrany, 2005) | The closeness of commercial and residential homes and businesses; proximity to services; proximity to social networks |
| 2 | Street connectivity | The interconnectedness of (spacious) streets and roads that connect to homes, shops, parks and neighborhood social centres (Molaei et al., 2021) | T-, Y- and L-junctions, spacious streets (with pavements), cross-roads |
| 3 | Mixed land use | A balanced distribution of residential homes and commercial establishments in the neighborhood (Sallis et al., 2010) | Residential homes, businesses to serve residents |
| Sociabilityb | |||
| 1 | SDCI | Safety in the neighborhood and disability-friendliness of commercial infrastructure (Asiamah et al., 2020) | Peace, safety within public space, disability-friendly commercial and residential buildings |
| 2 | Trust | A person’s strong belief in the reliability, truth or ability of someone (Baum and Ziersch, 2003) | Social engagement with others (including new friends); partnerships and collaborations |
| 3 | Social cohesion | The willingness of residents to cooperate to live in good health, survive and prosper (Martínez-Martínez et al., 2018) | Keep-fit clubs, religious groups, credit unions |
| 4 | Social support | The physical, economic and emotional comfort given to people by their family, friends, co-workers and others (Baum and Ziersch, 2003) | Health information, assistance to access healthcare |
| 5 | Reciprocity | The practice of neighbors exchanging things of value with others for mutual benefit (Cagney and Wen, 2008). | Social support; volunteering |
Notes: Like items in existing scales, the ‘key attributes/examples’ could be measured on a Likert-type scale that assesses availability, accessibility, relevance or quality of the neighborhood attributes. Most previous scales including the NEWS, PANES and ABEFs measure perceptions regarding the availability of the attributes with a Likert scale (i.e. not available, sometimes available, always available), which can be adopted for new measures. SAN, socially active neighborhoods; SN, serial number; SDCI, safety and disability-friendliness of commercial infrastructure.
aSAN are neighborhoods characterized by walkability and sociability attributes and, therefore, encourage and support adaptive behavior in the aging process.
bSociability is the degree to which a neighborhood provides social support attributable to trust, cohesion and reciprocity for adaptive behavior in the aging process.