Abstract
This study examined differences in older adults’ travel behaviours by frailty status in metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas of Japan. Data were collected from 9104 older adults (73.5 ± 5.7 years; 51% women; 19% frail) living in metropolitan (n = 5032), suburban (n = 2853), and rural areas (n = 1219) of Japan. Participants reported if they walked, cycled, drove a car, rode a car as a passenger, and used public transportation (PT) once per week or more. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess frailty status. We conducted logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratios of using each travel mode by frailty status stratified by locality. Relative to non-frail participants, frail participants were less likely to walk and drive a car in all three areas. Frail participants had significantly higher odds of being a car passenger in the suburban (OR = 1.73 (95% CI: 1.32, 2.25)) and rural areas (OR = 1.61 (1.10, 2.35)) but not in the metropolitan area (OR = 1.08 (0.87, 1.33)). This study found that frail older adults living in suburban and rural areas tended to rely more on cars driven by someone else, suggesting that transport disadvantage is more pronounced in suburban and rural areas than in metropolitan areas.
Highlights
Transport disadvantage is typically defined as the inability to travel when and where one needs without difficulty [1]
Our results showed that frail older adults in general were less likely to walk, cycle, drive a car, and use public transportation (PT), and more likely to be a car passenger compared to those without frailty
This study found that such disparities in travel modes for frail participants were not homogeneously distributed in different areas
Summary
Transport disadvantage is typically defined as the inability to travel when and where one needs without difficulty [1]. Such disadvantage is associated with poorer quality of life and well-being [2], as it can deprive people of opportunities to engage in meaningful social and community activities [3]. Transport disadvantage among older adults is a contemporary issue, since the population is ageing rapidly, in developed countries [4]. The effect of transport disadvantage may be magnified. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 6367; doi:10.3390/ijerph17176367 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
