Neighbor change and social connectedness for older adults in Barcelona

This study examines the interaction between aging and urban change to identify urban areas where older adults may experience low social connectedness, based on the principles of propinquity and homophily in the formation of social ties. We develop an indicator that operationalizes previous findings on the impact of urban change on older adults' social connectedness, a predictor of health and well-being. Using comprehensive administrative from the population register of Barcelona (Spain), we construct a Neighbor-Centered Index of Distinctiveness (NCID) for living areas. The NCID is computed from four variables available in the population register-age, sex, place of birth, and years of residence in the municipality‚ and estimates the degree of distinctiveness of older adults with the residents in each of the 1,068 census tracts in Barcelona for 2011 and 2021. The method involves defining areas and distances and calculating the NCID as the sum of the contributions of different groups. Results show the heterogeneity of areas in Barcelona and how NCID has changed over the last decade due to urban changes related to demographic dynamics, gentrification, and tourism. As expected, NCID increased with age and in 2021. Our findings provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to promote social connectedness.