“We need urbanization that is good to older people”: the sense of belonging of Chinese rural older adults experiencing in-situ urbanization

Many developing countries are prioritizing age-friendly urbanization in their policy agendas in response to two major demographic shifts: population ageing and urbanization. This qualitative study explored variations in the sense of belonging (SOB) among rural older adults undergoing in-situ urbanization and how these variations were related to their subjective well-being (SWB). Drawing on in-depth interviews with 35 older adults and three focus group discussions involving 16 community gatekeepers in a county in western China, the analysis identified three recurring patterns of SOB: clan-centric belonging, integrated dual belonging, and community-centric belonging. Participants whose accounts reflected integrated dual or community-centric belonging more often described positive well-being and attitudes toward urbanization. The thematic analysis related these patterns to (1) the contained influence of village clans, (2) discrepancies between expectations and the realities of urbanization, and (3) different coping responses. The findings suggest that urbanizing communities should consider both built and social infrastructure when supporting older residents’ participation and belonging.