Neighborhood Environment Walkability Research Articles

Neighbourhood environment walkability and the independence of older people: A comment on the 30-year plan for greater Adelaide

ABSTRACT With more than 80% of older Australians living independently in the community, the role of the built environment in enabling ageing in place, physical activity and social connectedness are informing government policy on health and aged services. Driven by the World Health Organization’s healthy ageing policy framework, spatial planners are prioritising neighbourhood environment as an important urban strategy for maintaining independent living. A recognition that environmental inclusion enhances social inclusion, supports interdependent functioning and service non-utilisation, and contributes to the long-term sustainability of cities. With South Australia's ageing population demographic where one in four people will be aged 65 years or older by 2045, the targets in the 30-year plan for greater Adelaide will not achieve the anticipated benefits for the fastest growing segment of the population.

The relationship between neighborhood environment and physical activity in Chinese youth: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Neighborhood walking environment is an environmental issue affecting human health-related behaviors in China and worldwide. High school is a special period in China, during which students need to prepare for the college entrance examination and are physically inactive. Therefore, the influence of environment on high school students’ physical activities is particularly prominent. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between neighborhood environment walkability and physical activity in Chinese youth. We conducted a retrospective questionnaire study on 3424 freshmen from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The mean age at the moment of completing the questionnaire was 18.74 years (SD = 0.95) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.37 kg/m2 (SD = 2.86). Participants were asked to look back on their usual weekly physical activity and perceived neighborhood environment during high school. Neighborhood environment was measured using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). Physical activity data by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) were collected. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. The mean scale total score of NEWS-Y was 14.66 (SD = 1.30). Participants on average engaged in 754.46 (SD = 844.69), 479.79 (SD = 687.24), 920.47 (SD = 994.92), and 2172.72 (SD = 1736.21) MET-minutes/week of travel physical activity (travel PA), moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and total physical activity (total PA), respectively. A one scale score increases in neighborhood walkable environmental was associated with an increase in travel PA and MPA by 42.64 (P < 0.001) and 31.11 (P < 0.01) MET-minutes/week, respectively. A possibly positive correlation between neighborhood environment walkability and physical activity was found. Future studies are warranted to replicate this study's findings, as well as provide evidence for potential policies to make neighborhood environment conducive to physical activity.

Neighborhood environment walkability and health-related quality of life among older adults in Hong Kong

This study examined the associations between walkability related environmental attributes (WREA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among older adults in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 participants (women = 233; mean age = 74.4 years) living in urban communities. Independent variables included residential density, land use mix-diversity, land use mix-access, street connectivity, infrastructure for walking, aesthetics, traffic hazards, crime, access to parking, lack of cul-de-sacs, hilliness, and physical barriers. Physical and mental dimensions of HRQoL were the dependent variables. Results revealed significant associations between WREA and HRQoL and demonstrated that aesthetics and physical barriers were significant determinants of physical health after adjusting age and sex, and crime and physical barriers were significant determinants of mental health after adjusting sex. This study provided empirical evidence that environmental walkability was associated with HRQoL among older adults in Hong Kong.

Safety from Crime and Physical Activity among Older Adults: A Population-Based Study in Brazil

Objective. To evaluate the association between safety from crime and physical activity among older adults. Methods. A population-based survey including 1,656 older adults (60+ years) took place in Florianopolis, Brazil, in 2009-2010. Commuting and leisure time physical activity were assessed through the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Perception of safety from crime was assessed using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale. Results. Perceiving the neighbourhood as safe during the day was related to a 25% increased likelihood of being active in leisure time (95% CI 1.02–1.53); general perception of safety was also associated with a 25% increase in the likelihood of being active in leisure time (95% CI 1.01–1.54). Street lighting was related to higher levels of commuting physical activity (prevalence ratio: 1.89; 95% CI 1.28–2.80). Conclusions. Safety investments are essential for promoting physical activity among older adults in Brazil.

Physical Activity and Neighborhood Characteristics of Dog Walkers

PURPOSE: This study examined differences in physical activity, weight status and neighborhood environment walkability and income between dog owners and non-owners. METHODS: Participants aged 20 to 64 years (N = 2199, 52% male, 74% white, M age = 45) were recruited from 32 neighborhoods in the Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD regions. Neighborhoods (i.e. a cluster of census block groups) represented high or low income (census data) and high or low walkability (using a GIS-based index). Dog ownership and minutes of dog walking were self-reported. Overall physical activity was measured by 7 days of accelerometry and self-reported time spent walking per day for leisure from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Covariates included ethnicity, age, highest level of household education, and sex. RESULTS: About 28% of the sample were dog owners. Dog owners were more likely to live in high vs. low income (32% vs. 24%, p < .001) and low vs. high walkable neighborhoods (32% vs. 24%, p < .001). Dog owners reported more leisure walking per day (M = 29.1 minutes) than non-owners (M = 17.8, p < .001). There were no differences in accelerometer counts between dog owners and non-owners. Dog walkers spent an average of 25 minutes/week walking the dog, and 27% met physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week with dog walking. However, 30% of owners spent no time walking their dogs. Dog owners living in high vs. low walkable areas spent more time walking their dogs (adj M = 37.4 vs. 19.07, p < .001). Dog owners were divided into those who walked their dogs (> 0 min/week) and those who did not. Dog walkers had lower BMIs than non-dog walkers (M = 26.6 vs. 28.0, p = .003), greater leisure time walking (M = 40.4 vs. 8.5, p < .001), and greater total accelerometer counts/day (M = 313,160 vs. 282,962, p = .009). Dog walkers were more likely to live in high walkable areas than non-dog walkers (47% vs. 32%, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Dog ownership was associated with higher levels of self-reported leisure time physical activity. Dog walkers had lower BMIs and accelerometer scores that were 11% higher than those of dog owners who did not walk their dogs. Encouraging dog walking among owners who do not regularly walk them could promote improved health. More dog walking appears to be a health benefit of living in walkable neighborhoods.