Closure of 'third places'? Exploring potential consequences for collective health and wellbeing

Jessica Finlay; Michael Esposito; Min Hee Kim; Iris Gomez-Lopez; Philippa Clarke

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102225

Closure of 'third places'? Exploring potential consequences for collective health and wellbeing

Health Place. 2019 Nov:60:102225. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102225. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

Authors

Jessica Finlay¹, Michael Esposito², Min Hee Kim³, Iris Gomez-Lopez⁴, Philippa Clarke⁵

Affiliations

¹ Social Environment and Health, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States. Electronic address: jmfinlay@umich.edu.
² Social Environment and Health, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States. Electronic address: esposm@umich.edu.
³ Social Environment and Health, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States; Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, 3333 California Street, San Francisco, CA, 94118, United States. Electronic address: kminhee@umich.edu.
⁴ Social Environment and Health, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States. Electronic address: ingomez@umich.edu.
⁵ Social Environment and Health, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 426 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104, United States; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, United States. Electronic address: pjclarke@umich.edu.

Abstract

In unassuming neighborhood locales, such as coffee shops, hair salons, and malls, people meet to socialize, express themselves, and support one another. These 'third places' enrich social interaction, sense of community, and belonging outside of the home and workplace. Yet third places are closing across the United States. Americans may be losing access to key services, goods, and amenities, in addition to community sites that help buffer against loneliness, stress, and alienation. The relevance of third places to health and quality life is under-researched. These sites may support wellbeing through mechanisms of stimulation, support, protection, and care. We call on researchers to investigate how third places contribute to wellbeing and consider the consequences that the disappearance of such places has for public health. Future research on third places may be mobilized to innovatively reduce health disparities and improve quality of life.

Keywords: Neighborhood; Place; Public health; Social infrastructure; Third places; Wellbeing.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Health Status*
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Mental Health / statistics & numerical data*
Residence Characteristics / statistics & numerical data
Social Support
Socialization
United States

Grants and funding

RF1 AG057540/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States