Analysis of Neighborhood Environmental Characteristics Affecting Walking Activity Time - Focused on the Difference between Subjectively Measured- and Objectively Measured-Neighborhood Environment -

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between walking activity and neighborhood environmental characteristics using the survey data including 500 residents in Seoul. Focusing on the weekly walking time by walking purposes such as utilitarian walking and leisure walking, this study focused on the different impacts of subjectively measured- and objectively measured- neighborhood environments on walking activity time. The results indicated that the total time of utilitarian walking has significant associations with personal characteristics, residential duration, subjectively measured land use mix, and the number of bus stops. In contrast, the total time of leisure walking is significantly associated with personal characteristics such as health condition and the number of close neighbors and subjectively measured neighborhood environments such as land use mix and access to a neighborhood park. Notably, this study found that health condition and subjectively measured land use mix variables are significant for both walking activities. Finally, this study suggested that both subjectively measured- and objectively measured- neighborhood environments should be considered for an analysis of the relationship between walking activity and neighborhood environment.