Ageing and Social Networks: Mapping the Life-worlds of Older Singaporeans, Funded by the Social Science Research Council Thematic Grant (Type B), 2021-2024
People Involved:
Principal Investigator:
Prof Elaine Ho Lynn-Ee (Department of Geography & Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore)
Co-Principal Investigators:
Associate Prof Vincent Chua Kynn Hong (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, National University of Singapore)
Associate Prof Feng Chen-Chieh (Department of Geography, National University of Singapore)
A short summary of the project’s aims:
Strong social networks can reduce social isolation and enhance the well-being of older adults. Urban design, housing policy and eldercare programs promote the creation of such social networks for “ageing-in-place”. However, this idea of ‘ageing in place’ can be limiting because older adults’ social networks are neither restricted to their own neighbourhoods nor to their family and neighbours. Other friendships and work relationships are also an important part of older adults’ social networks.
This project examines the social and geographical characteristics of older adults’ social networks. The research team combines Social Network Analysis with Qualitative Geographic Information Science (Qualitative GIS), thus blending large scale numerical survey data with deep, targeted qualitative research and GPS tracking methods that are then computationally mapped to real spaces. The research is carried out in two neighbourhoods in Singapore, looking at how older adults’ social networks are shaped by their surroundings, as well as extending beyond.