Using Eye-Tracking to Explore the Visual Attention and Preference of Older Adults with Diverse Functional and Social Participation in Public Spaces of Older Urban Neighborhoods

Improving small-scale public spaces in older urban neighborhoods is important for enhancing the quality of life of older adults, yet current planning often treats older adults as a homogeneous group. This eye-tracking study addresses this limitation by investigating the visual preferences of 60 community-dwelling older adults in Qingdao’s old town. Based on the Successful Aging model, participants were stratified into four distinct profiles (Q1–Q4) based on their physiological function and social participation. Analysis of eye movements revealed a hierarchy of environmental attention and preferences of environmental needs. While safety remained a basic environmental requirement, significant group differences emerged: Low-Function groups (Q3, Q4) prioritized accessibility elements like steps, exhibiting function-dependent visual patterns visual patterns with longer fixation durations. Conversely, High-Participation groups focused on social activity spaces, while the High-Function/High-Participation group (Q1) uniquely attended to aesthetic features. Consequently, this study advocates for a differentiated micro-renewal strategy: first securing prioritizingsafety, followed by social support, and finally enhancing aesthetics to promote inclusive, age-friendly communities.