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Walking for Transport among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Role of the Built Environment in Less Densely Populated Areas in Northern Germany

Author

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  • Tanja Brüchert

    (Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Pia Hasselder

    (Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

  • Paula Quentin

    (Department of European Planning Cultures, Faculty of Spatial Planning, TU Dortmund University, August-Schmidt-Straße 10, 44227 Dortmund, Germany)

  • Gabriele Bolte

    (Institute of Public Health and Nursing Research, Department of Social Epidemiology, University of Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359 Bremen, Germany
    Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany)

Abstract

In the last decades, there has been rising interest in public health research in the importance of the built environment for a healthy and active life in old age, but little attention has been paid to less densely populated areas. This study aimed to explore the impact of the built environment on walking for transport in the context of an older population living in communities of <100,000 inhabitants. Within the project AFOOT–Securing urban mobility of an aging population , a cross-sectional postal survey was carried out from May to September 2019 in older adults (≥65 years) in the Metropolitan Region Northwest, Germany. Self-reported data from 2189 study participants were analyzed. Logistic and linear regression models were used to examine the associations between the built environment and walking for transport. Any walking and frequent walking were positively associated with nearly all built environment attributes, even after adjustment for demographic and health covariates. The amount of walking in minutes per week was associated only with residential density. Moderating effects of gender, age, and use of walking aids were identified. Improving the built environment appears to be a promising opportunity to motivate and enable older adults to walk for transport.

Suggested Citation

  • Tanja Brüchert & Pia Hasselder & Paula Quentin & Gabriele Bolte, 2020. "Walking for Transport among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Role of the Built Environment in Less Densely Populated Areas in Northern Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9479-:d:464051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saelens, B.E. & Sallis, J.F. & Black, J.B. & Chen, D., 2003. "Neighborhood-Based Differences in Physical Activity: An Environment Scale Evaluation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1552-1558.
    2. Daniela Kahlert & Wolfgang Schlicht, 2015. "Older People’s Perceptions of Pedestrian Friendliness and Traffic Safety: An Experiment Using Computer-Simulated Walking Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, August.
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    2. Congying Fang & Riken Homma & Qiang Liu & Hang Liu & Arbi Surya Satria Ridwan, 2022. "Research on the Factors of Pedestrian Volume in Different Functional Areas of Kumamoto City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
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    4. Tanja Brüchert & Paula Quentin & Sabine Baumgart & Gabriele Bolte, 2021. "Barriers, Facilitating Factors, and Intersectoral Collaboration for Promoting Active Mobility for Healthy Aging—A Qualitative Study within Local Government in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, April.
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