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Aging in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income: Associations with physical activity and obesity in older adults

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  • King, Abby C.
  • Sallis, James F.
  • Frank, Lawrence D.
  • Saelens, Brian E.
  • Cain, Kelli
  • Conway, Terry L.
  • Chapman, James E.
  • Ahn, David K.
  • Kerr, Jacqueline

Abstract

While there is a growing literature on the relations between neighborhood design and health factors such as physical activity and obesity, less focus has been placed on older adults, who may be particularly vulnerable to environmental influences. This study evaluates the relations among objectively measured neighborhood design, mobility impairment, and physical activity and body weight in two U.S. regional samples of community dwelling older adults living in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income levels. An observational design involving two time points six months apart was employed between 2005 and 2008. U.S. Census block groups in Seattle-King County, Washington and Baltimore, Maryland-Washington DC regions were selected via geographic information systems to maximize variability in walkability and income. Participants were 719 adults ages 66 years and older who were able to complete surveys in English and walk at least 10 feet continuously. Measurements included reported walking or bicycling for errands (i.e., transport activity) and other outdoor aerobic activities measured via the CHAMPS questionnaire: accelerometry-based moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; reported body mass index; and reported lower extremity mobility impairment measured via the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument. Across regions, time, and neighborhood income, older adults living in more walkable neighborhoods had more transport activity and moderate-to- vigorous physical activity and lower body mass index relative to those living in less walkable neighborhoods. The most mobility-impaired adults living in more walkable neighborhoods reported transport activity levels that were similar to less mobility-impaired adults living in less walkable neighborhoods. The results add to the small literature aimed at understanding how neighborhood design may influence physical activity and related aspects of health linked with day-to-day function and independence as people age.

Suggested Citation

  • King, Abby C. & Sallis, James F. & Frank, Lawrence D. & Saelens, Brian E. & Cain, Kelli & Conway, Terry L. & Chapman, James E. & Ahn, David K. & Kerr, Jacqueline, 2011. "Aging in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income: Associations with physical activity and obesity in older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(10), pages 1525-1533.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:73:y:2011:i:10:p:1525-1533
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.08.032
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    1. Van Cauwenberg, Jelle & De Donder, Liesbeth & Clarys, Peter & De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse & Buffel, Tine & De Witte, Nico & Dury, Sarah & Verté, Dominique & Deforche, Benedicte, 2014. "Relationships between the perceived neighborhood social environment and walking for transportation among older adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 23-30.
    2. Cain, Kelli L. & Millstein, Rachel A. & Sallis, James F. & Conway, Terry L. & Gavand, Kavita A. & Frank, Lawrence D. & Saelens, Brian E. & Geremia, Carrie M. & Chapman, James & Adams, Marc A. & Glanz,, 2014. "Contribution of streetscape audits to explanation of physical activity in four age groups based on the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS)," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 82-92.
    3. Hong, Andy & Sallis, James F. & King, Abby C. & Conway, Terry L. & Saelens, Brian & Cain, Kelli L. & Fox, Eric H. & Frank, Lawrence D., 2018. "Linking green space to neighborhood social capital in older adults: The role of perceived safety," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 38-45.
    4. Masayoshi Oka, 2015. "Measuring a neighborhood affluence-deprivation continuum in urban settings: Descriptive findings from four US cities," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(54), pages 1469-1486.
    5. van Leeuwen, K.M. & Malley, J. & Bosmans, J.E. & Jansen, A.P.D. & Ostelo, R.W. & van der Horst, H.E. & Netten, A., 2014. "What can local authorities do to improve the social care-related quality of life of older adults living at home?: evidence from the adult social care survey," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58022, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Mi Namgung & B. Elizabeth Mercado Gonzalez & Seungwoo Park, 2019. "The Role of Built Environment on Health of Older Adults in Korea: Obesity and Gender Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-13, September.
    7. Andrews, Gavin J. & Hall, Edward & Evans, Bethan & Colls, Rachel, 2012. "Moving beyond walkability: On the potential of health geography," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(11), pages 1925-1932.
    8. Courtney Coughenour & Hanns de la Fuente-Mella & Alexander Paz, 2019. "Analysis of Self-Reported Walking for Transit in a Sprawling Urban Metropolitan Area in the Western U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, February.
    9. Yeh, Anthony Gar-On & Zhong, Teng, 2021. "Polygonization method for automatic generation of indoor and outdoor pedestrian navigation path for smart city," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    10. Francesco Scorza & Giovanni Fortunato & Raffaella Carbone & Beniamino Murgante & Piergiuseppe Pontrandolfi, 2021. "Increasing Urban Walkability through Citizens’ Participation Processes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-29, May.
    11. Ottoni, Callista A. & Sims-Gould, Joanie & Winters, Meghan & Heijnen, Myrthe & McKay, Heather A., 2016. "“Benches become like porches”: Built and social environment influences on older adults’ experiences of mobility and well-being," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 33-41.
    12. Michael, Yvonne L. & Nagel, Corey L. & Gold, Rachel & Hillier, Teresa A., 2014. "Does change in the neighborhood environment prevent obesity in older women?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 129-137.
    13. Poulin, Laura I.L. & Skinner, Mark W. & Hanlon, Neil, 2020. "Rural gerontological health: Emergent questions for research, policy and practice," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    14. Warner, Erica T. & Huguet, Nathalie & Fredericks, Michelle & Gundersen, Daniel & Nederveld, Andrea & Brown, Meagan C. & Houston, Thomas K. & Davis, Kia L. & Mazzucca, Stephanie & Rendle, Katharine A. , 2023. "Advancing health equity through implementation science: Identifying and examining measures of the outer setting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    15. Jayeun Kim & Kyuhyun Yoon, 2020. "Municipal Residence Level of Long-Term PM 10 Exposure Associated with Obesity among Young Adults in Seoul, Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-13, September.
    16. Winters, Meghan & Voss, Christine & Ashe, Maureen C. & Gutteridge, Kaitlyn & McKay, Heather & Sims-Gould, Joanie, 2015. "Where do they go and how do they get there? Older adults' travel behaviour in a highly walkable environment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 304-312.
    17. Jaekyung Lee & Saheum Hong & Yunmi Park, 2017. "Predictable Surprise: The Spatial and Social Morphology of Aging Suburbs in the U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-20, March.
    18. Meijering, Louise & Weitkamp, Gerd, 2016. "Numbers and narratives: Developing a mixed-methods approach to understand mobility in later life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 200-206.
    19. Marquet, Oriol & Miralles-Guasch, Carme, 2015. "Neighbourhood vitality and physical activity among the elderly: The role of walkable environments on active ageing in Barcelona, Spain," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 24-30.
    20. Zhenhua Zheng & Liu (Lydia) Yang, 2019. "Neighborhood Environment, Lifestyle, and Health of Older Adults: Comparison of Age Groups Based on Ecological Model of Aging," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, April.
    21. Scott Cloutier & Alex Karner & Hanna L. Breetz & Parinaz Toufani & Nuri Onat & Sambhram Patel & Siddhanth Paralkar & Erica Berejnoi & Beth Ann Morrison & Jason Papenfuss & A. Davieau Briggs & Cynthia , 2017. "Measures of a Sustainable Commute as a Predictor of Happiness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-15, July.
    22. Zhou, Peiling & Grady, Sue C. & Chen, Guo, 2017. "How the built environment affects change in older people's physical activity: A mixed- methods approach using longitudinal health survey data in urban China," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 74-84.

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