Older people’s perceptions of urban green spaces in Macau and gender differences

Studies on gender differences in the perception of urban green spaces (UGS) among older people are scarce. Based on this research gap, this paper attempts to explore older people’s subjective evaluations of UGS in Macau, to identify gender differences in their perceptions of these spaces and to propose corresponding improvement strategies, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the building of an age-friendly city in Macau. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify evaluation measurements. Preliminary interviews with older people were undertaken to ensure the local adaptability of evaluation measurements. The characteristics of UGS were measured using 22 attributes categorised into six dimensions. The questionnaire was designed based on these evaluation measurements. Importance–performance analysis was used to discover the importance and satisfaction ranking of UGS attributes. A total of 600 valid questionnaires was collected. Results show that both older women and older men regard social activities as a primary purpose of visiting UGS. Only older women care very much about children’s facilities and their preferences is more for garden plants than for tall trees. Enhancing functional facilities, encouraging social engagement and creating multiple uses are the primary objectives of UGS design.