Using Walk Score™ and Neighborhood Perceptions to Assess Walking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

J Community Health

Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Center for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.

Published: October 2016

We aimed to determine the relationship between neighborhood characteristics (walkability, cohesion/safety) and recommended activity levels among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Subjective and objective data on 394 individuals aged ≥50 years were used to assess the likelihood of walking ≥150 min/week. Environmental factors associated with a greater likelihood of any walking ≥150 min/week included living in a neighborhood with high perception of cohesion/safety versus low, living in walkable areas versus car-dependent, and living in an area with a low-moderate median income versus the lowest. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely to walk ≥150 min/week in a walkable, perceived safe/cohesive neighborhood. Identifying neighborhood factors associated with promoting walking among this population can enable stakeholders (e.g., researchers, planners, and policy makers) to direct interventions focusing on the built environment.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0180-zDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

middle-aged older
12
older adults
12
likelihood walking
8
walking ≥150 min/week
8
factors associated
8
neighborhood
5
walk score™
4
score™ neighborhood
4
neighborhood perceptions
4
perceptions assess
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!