The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered the social lives of older adults, restricting access to traditional 'third places' (social spaces outside home and work). This study examines how the pandemic affected Malaysian seniors' well-being, focusing on the roles of their home and neighborhood ('first place') and online spaces ('online third places'). Previous research established links between neighborhood characteristics and well-being in various countries, including Malaysia. However, the pandemic's impact on these relationships remains largely unexplored. The pandemic heightened social isolation among older adults, increasing their vulnerability to loneliness and depression. While technology offered a means of maintaining social connections, its effectiveness in replacing traditional social interactions for this demographic is unclear. This research aims to address this gap by examining the extent to which 'first place' and 'online third places' contributed to the life satisfaction of Malaysian seniors during the pandemic.

Existing literature highlights the importance of both physical and virtual environments in influencing older adults' well-being. Studies in various countries (China, Korea, Japan, and Western nations) demonstrate a strong relationship between residential satisfaction, neighborhood quality, and life satisfaction among older adults. In Malaysia, prior research by Tan and Lee (2022, 2023) explored the impact of physical third places on life satisfaction. However, the impact of online third places, especially during a pandemic, is less studied. The concept of 'third places' as defined by Oldenburg (1999) provides a framework for understanding social spaces outside home and workplace. The study also reviews literature on various online third places, including social media chatrooms, online forums and blogs, instant messaging apps, and online learning communities, and their potential role in combating social isolation among older adults. The literature supports the role of both built and virtual social environments in influencing older people's wellbeing, leading to the research questions that this study addresses.

This mixed-methods study employed a questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews. The quantitative data were collected from 500 active older adults (aged 60+) in four districts of the Klang Valley, Malaysia, using a drop-off and pick-up method between May 2021 and March 2022. The response rate was 36%. Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews with seven neighborhood leaders (residential association and community club leaders) in the same areas. The questionnaire measured life satisfaction, housing satisfaction, and six aspects of the neighborhood environment (accessibility, walking infrastructure, crime safety, aesthetics, traffic safety, and street connectivity). Likert scales were used for rating these factors. The interviews explored participants' experiences and perceptions of their home, neighborhood, and online social environments during the pandemic. The measurement model's validity was tested with Confirmatory Factor Analysis and discriminant validity is discussed using Heterotrait-Monotrait Ratio of Correlations (HTMT). The structural model is evaluated via path coefficients, standard errors, and t-values. The analysis examined the relationships between housing satisfaction, neighborhood characteristics, use of various online third places, and life satisfaction among the older adults.

The structural model, explaining 67.1% of the variance in life satisfaction, revealed significant predictors. Housing satisfaction (β = 0.275, p < 0.001) had a strong positive relationship with life satisfaction, indicating that comfortable housing positively impacts well-being during the pandemic. Neighborhood aesthetics (β = 0.230, p < 0.001), street connectivity (β = 0.103, p < 0.005), and traffic safety (β = 0.155, p < 0.018) positively influenced life satisfaction. Surprisingly, accessibility and crime safety were not significant predictors. Walking infrastructure showed a negative, though significant, correlation (β = -0.165, p < 0.007). Regarding online third places, only the use of instant messaging apps (such as WhatsApp or WeChat) (β = 0.120, p < 0.015) had a significant positive relationship with life satisfaction. Social media chatrooms, online forums/blogs, online learning communities, and online service communities showed no significant impact on life satisfaction among the Malaysian seniors during the pandemic. The study highlights the importance of housing and neighborhood quality, notably aesthetics and street connectivity, for older adults during times of pandemic. It suggests that despite the increased use of technology, online third places were not effective substitutes for traditional social interactions for Malaysian older adults during the pandemic, except for instant messaging apps which provided a convenient and user-friendly platform for maintaining social connections.

The findings highlight the crucial role of the built environment, specifically well-designed housing and aesthetically pleasing, safe, and well-connected neighborhoods, in promoting the well-being of Malaysian seniors during the pandemic. The positive impact of housing satisfaction is consistent with previous research, underscoring the need for housing that caters to the changing needs of older adults. The significance of neighborhood aesthetics aligns with research showing the benefits of access to green spaces. The positive association between street connectivity and life satisfaction suggests the importance of creating pedestrian-friendly environments. The unexpected lack of significance for accessibility and crime safety might be due to changes in behavior during the lockdown, with individuals limiting their use of local amenities and services due to pandemic restrictions. The insignificant role of most online third places suggests that while technology can facilitate connection, it may not fully replace the social benefits of traditional face-to-face interactions for this population. This might be due to factors like the digital divide, concerns about online safety, and the preference for in-person social interaction among Malaysian seniors. The significant positive effect of using instant messaging apps suggests that this simple, user-friendly technology played a crucial role in sustaining social connections during lockdown. The findings suggest a need for community interventions focused on improving the built environment and bridging the digital divide to better support the well-being of older adults during crises.

This study underscores the continued importance of the built environment in supporting older adults' well-being during a pandemic. While technology offers potential benefits, its effectiveness in replacing traditional social interaction is limited. Future research should explore strategies to enhance the accessibility and usability of online third places for older adults. This may involve providing training and support to overcome digital literacy barriers and fostering safer and more engaging online communities. Further studies should also consider expanding geographically to other areas of Malaysia and account for the differing needs of older adults with varying levels of mobility.

The study's limitations include its geographical scope (Klang Valley, Malaysia) and its focus on active older adults. The findings may not be generalizable to other regions or older adults with mobility challenges. The reliance on self-reported data also introduces potential biases. Further research is needed to investigate the experiences of older adults with diverse needs and in different contexts.