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The Psychology of Third Spaces
603 words | About 4 minutes
In recent years, most notably since the COVID pandemic, it is undeniable that third spaces – social spaces outside of home (first) or work/school (second) spaces – are disappearing at a rapid pace. This decline can be attributed to any one of a number of factors: most obviously, perhaps, is that rising real-estate prices have made it largely unprofitable to design and uphold a space whose primary purpose is driven by social interaction, rather than spending. However, there exist a variety of other factors which are responsible for this trend, from social media to a lack of inter-generational discourse and understanding. The closures of these spaces can be seen to have measurable effects on mental health outcomes, particularly for teens and young adults as this has made it harder to reconnect with people after the COVID pandemic.
One of the primary ways in which the lack of third spaces has affected mental health is through the stifling of face-to-face communication. Throughout the COVID pandemic, the closure of nearly all second and third spaces presented a huge, often insurmountable, barrier to face-to-face contact. This led to many youth feeling distressed, anxious and isolated. As lockdowns lifted, young people were often eager to spend time in third spaces: a 2021 study of UC Irvine students by Lee & Houston found that, even with some COVID restrictions still in place, over three quarters of the participants had visited third spaces in the prior six months, of which around 90% of these visits were for the purpose of relaxing and/or socializing. This study clearly demonstrates that these third spaces offer critical sites for young people to socialize and de-stress, and for this reason their disappearance will likely prove detrimental to the mental health of many youth. Indeed, research by Clow & Fredhoi in 2006 found that visiting a local art gallery lowered stress levels, and there exist many studies showing the psychological benefits of “consumer-facing third spaces” – businesses such as cafes, bookshops and bars, for instance (Lee & Houston, 2024).
However, a report by Finlay et al. found that, although the number of consumer-facing businesses rose by around 2% from 2008 to 2015, the number of entertainment and recreation spaces fell by nearly 20%. This decline is indicative of two wider trends: an overall decrease in third spaces, and an increased commercialization of those third spaces which remain. Given the well-researched psychological impact of these third spaces, it is clear that the disappearance of third spaces is having, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the mental health of young people. In addition, the commercialization of social spaces presents a sizable barrier to accessing these spaces, as many consumer-facing businesses require patrons to pay to use this space. If social third spaces continue to be replaced with commercial ones, the ability to socialize may even prove inaccessible to many groups of people.
It is obvious, then, that action must be taken to preserve third spaces, particularly those which are not business-led. Finlay et al.’s report sets out several important factors to research in this vein, such as investigating “who is included or excluded from third places,” as well as “the role of third places for the wellbeing of staff.” The report’s conclusion places a great importance on “the integration of geography, public health and civic planning” in ensuring the continued existence of third spaces, as well as the role that policymakers hold in maintaining these spaces. Through such interventions and continued research into the psychological effects of third spaces and their absence, progress can, and should, be made to protect against the disappearances of such important spaces.