Jingheng Yan

Mr. Jingheng Yan

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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30 January 2025 in Building and Environment
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
YMYuheng Mao
Yuheng Mao
TXTianyu Xia
Tianyu Xia
FHFan Hu
Fan Hu
JHJinyu Hu
Jinyu Hu
YHYichen He
Yichen He
DCDan Chen
Dan Chen

MYMinhui Yang
Minhui Yang
Lu WangLu Wang
Lu Wang
LYLixia Yang
Lixia Yang
JYJie Yu
Jie Yu
Dongmei ChenDongmei Chen
Dongmei Chen
JYJingheng Yan
Jingheng Yan
Background: Vast spatial mobility changes happened globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, profoundly affecting older adults’ well-being and active aging experience. This study aims to examine how the virtual environment and cyberspace, in conjunction with the physical and social neighbourhood environments, influence outdoor activities and spatial mobility for older immigrants. Methods: Four online focus groups were conducted with 25 older Chinese immigrants aged 65 and over in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada. The focus groups explored coping strategies during the pandemic and spatial mobility patterns related to different activity types such as grocery shopping, leisure activities and physical exercises, social and familial activities, and healthcare. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted guided by the neighbourhood and health theoretical framework. Results: The overall engagement of older Chinese immigrants in various types of outdoor activities declined drastically and the spatial mobility pattern was complex. This change was shaped largely by the intersecting physical/built (e.g., residential conditions, access to public spaces), social (e.g., social support, interpersonal cohesion) and virtual (e.g., online communities and internet-based resources) environmental factors, as well as individual risk perceptions towards COVID-19 and public health interventions during the pandemic. Conclusions: Virtual environment emerged as an important domain that compensates for the heavily reduced spatial mobility of the group during the pandemic. It functioned as a vital channel for older Chinese immigrants to sustain the necessary leisure, social, and healthcare-related activities and maintain well-being during the pandemic. The study provides implications for addressing neighbourhood-level factors in policymaking and implementing initiatives to enhance active ageing experience of older Chinese immigrants.