Benefits and Constraints Associated with the Use of an Urban
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BENEFITS AND CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF AN URBAN PARK REPORTED BY THE ELDERLY IN HONG KONG A Thesis by KAM HUNG Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December 2004 Major Subject: Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences ii BENEFITS AND CONSTRAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF AN URBAN PARK REPORTED BY THE ELDERLY IN HONG KONG A Thesis by KAM HUNG Submitted to Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved as to style and content by: John L. Crompton C. Scott Shafer (Chair of Committee) (Member) Andrew D. Seidel Joseph T. O’Leary (Member) (Head of Department) December 2004 Major Subject: Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences iii ABSTRACT Benefits and Constraints Associated with the Use of an Urban Park Reported by the Elderly in Hong Kong. (December 2004) Kam Hung, B.A., Hong Kong Polytechnic University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. John L. Crompton The purpose of this study was to identify benefits and constraints associated with the use of urban parks by a sample of elderly in Hong Kong. Before studying these topics, self-perception of aging of the elderly in Hong Kong was explored. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 individuals inside and 12 outside the Tsuen Wan Jockey Club Tak Wah Park. Purposive sampling was used to select the sample. The interviews were semi-structured, based on an interview guide of open-ended questions. Results of the study suggested that although there are some differences in explanations of aging among different countries, some aging models and theories which have been developed in western countries can be employed to interpret the aging phenomenon in Hong Kong. Several constraints and health-related social and psychological benefits of attending a park were reported by the sample. Heterogeneity of leisure constraints among different age cohorts of the elderly was found in the study. Although similarities were found between the benefits reported in this study and those reported in western countries, the magnitude of benefits received from visiting parks may be different because of the different characteristics of elderly in different countries. iv In memory of Ping Hung, my dearest sister. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are a number of people who have contributed to the completion of this thesis. My first sincere thanks goes to Dr. John L. Crompton, my committee chair, for his invaluable advice on my thesis, his tolerance of my ignorance, and the time that he has given to my thesis. I would also like to thank Marguerite, a lovely lady in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences (RPTS) at Texas A&M University, for her patience in answering my thousand questions; the interviewees, for sharing their life experiences with me; the faculty members in RPTS, for the knowledge they gave me; and all my friends, for always being there to help me and stand by me. I am especially thankful to my parents. Without their support, I would not be staying here, pursuing my goals. A simple “thank you” is unable to convey my sincere gratitude to them for their unconditional love. I owe a special thanks to my dearest sister, Ping Hung, who loved me and supported my study. Gratitude is also extended to the closest friend of my family, Yin Chiu Choi, who never hesitates to help my family; my oldest sister, Yui Hong, my brothers, Wei Hong and Hing Hung, and my sister-in-laws, who continuously support my study; and, last but not least, my lovely nieces and nephews, whose laughter and tears make my life more interesting. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................1 Study Objectives .........................................................................................................6 LITERATURE REVIEW .....................................................................................................7 Introduction.................................................................................................................7 Aging Studies..............................................................................................................7 Definitions of Aging ......................................................................................8 Successful Aging ...........................................................................................12 Aging Theories...............................................................................................14 Conclusion .....................................................................................................28 Leisure Constraints .....................................................................................................31 General Leisure Constraints...........................................................................31 Leisure Constraints among the Elderly..........................................................45 Conceptual Model..........................................................................................51 Conclusion .....................................................................................................54 Leisure Benefits ..........................................................................................................56 Definition of Benefits ....................................................................................56 History of Benefits Research .........................................................................58 Conceptual Framework Development ...........................................................60 Benefits and Aging ........................................................................................74 Conclusion .....................................................................................................77 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................................79 Study Areas.................................................................................................................79 Tsuen Wan District ........................................................................................80 Tsuen Wan Jockey Club Tak Wah Park ........................................................83 Sampling .....................................................................................................................89 Data Collection Procedures.........................................................................................90 Text Analysis ..............................................................................................................92 Reading of the Data .......................................................................................92 Dividing the Data into Parts ..........................................................................92 Organizing and Transforming the Data into Disciplinary Language.............93 Expressing the Structure of the Phenomenon ................................................94 Limitations of the Study..............................................................................................94 vii Page FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................96 Sample Profile.............................................................................................................96 Education .......................................................................................................96 Job Status .......................................................................................................97 Marital Status.................................................................................................98 Health Status ..................................................................................................98 Residence .......................................................................................................99 Perception of Aging ....................................................................................................99 Perception of Oldness ....................................................................................99 Leisure Activities...........................................................................................100 Perception of Oldness ....................................................................................101 Life Satisfaction.............................................................................................102 Leisure Constraints .....................................................................................................105 Constraints Associated with Leisure Participation ........................................105 Constraints Associated with Park Use ...........................................................107 Benefits Associated with Park Use.............................................................................114 Health-related Benefits ..................................................................................116 Social Benefits ...............................................................................................116 Psychological Benefits...................................................................................117 DISCUSSION........................................................................................................................121