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Aging in Activity Space: Results From Smartphone-Based GPS-Tracking of Urban Seniors

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  • Erin York Cornwell
  • Kathleen A Cagney

Abstract

ObjectivesPrior research emphasizes the importance of the residential neighborhood context during later life but little attention has been afforded to other areas that older adults encounter as they move beyond their residential environments for daily activities and social interactions. This study examines the predominance of the residential context within older adults’ everyday lives.MethodWe provided 60 older adults in four New York City neighborhoods with iPhones, which captured Global Positioning Systems (GPS) locations at 5-min intervals over 1 week (n = 55,561) and 17 ecological momentary assessments (EMAs) over 4 days (n = 757) to assess real-time activities.ResultsOlder adults in our sample spent nearly 40% of their time outside of their residential tracts and they visited 28 other tracts, on average. Exercising, shopping, socializing, and social activities were especially likely to take place outside of residential tracts. Differences in residential and nonresidential poverty exposure vary across gender, race/ethnicity, education, car ownership, and residential areas.DiscussionMeasuring activity space, rather than relying on residential tracts, allows examination of the social environments that are relevant for older adults’ everyday lives. Variation in characteristics of activity spaces may be an underexplored source of differences in health and well-being during later life.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin York Cornwell & Kathleen A Cagney, 2017. "Aging in Activity Space: Results From Smartphone-Based GPS-Tracking of Urban Seniors," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 72(5), pages 864-875.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:72:y:2017:i:5:p:864-875.
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    3. Tzuyuan Stessa Chao & Xiaoqin Jiang & Yi Sun & Jheng-Ze Yu, 2021. "A Space-Time Analysis of Rural Older People’s Outdoor Mobility and Its Impact on Self-Rated Health: Evidence from a Taiwanese Rural Village," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Wenfei Xu, 2022. "The contingency of neighbourhood diversity: Variation of social context using mobile phone application data," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(4), pages 851-869, March.
    5. Liang Cai & Guangwen Song & Yanji Zhang, 2024. "Understanding neighborhood income segregation around the clock using mobile phone ambient population data," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    6. Becky P. Y. Loo & Zhuangyuan Fan & Esteban Moro, 2024. "Residential and experienced social segregation: the roles of different transport modes, metro extensions, and longitudinal changes in Hong Kong," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Jian Feng & Huali Hou, 2023. "Review of Research on Urban Social Space and Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-26, November.
    8. Kim, Hongjik & Usui, Hiroyuki & Asami, Yasushi & Hino, Kimihiro, 2022. "A simulation of allocation of participants engaging in group activities at community salons: Accessibility and self-stigma," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).

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