Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have investigated both the self-perceived and measured environment with objectively determined physical activity in older adults. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine measured and perceived environmental asso...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2012-04-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/9/1/40 |
| _version_ | 1818757251772448768 |
|---|---|
| author | Strath Scott J Greenwald Michael J Isaacs Raymond Hart Teresa L Lenz Elizabeth K Dondzila Christopher J Swartz Ann M |
| author_facet | Strath Scott J Greenwald Michael J Isaacs Raymond Hart Teresa L Lenz Elizabeth K Dondzila Christopher J Swartz Ann M |
| author_sort | Strath Scott J |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have investigated both the self-perceived and measured environment with objectively determined physical activity in older adults. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine measured and perceived environmental associations with physical activity of older adults residing across different neighborhood types.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One-hundred and forty-eight older individuals, mean age 64.3 ± 8.4, were randomly recruited from one of four neighborhoods that were pre-determined as either having high- or low walkable characteristics. Individual residences were geocoded and 200 m network buffers established. Both objective environment audit, and self-perceived environmental measures were collected, in conjunction with accelerometer derived physical activity behavior. Using both perceived and objective environment data, analysis consisted of a macro-level comparison of physical activity levels across neighborhood, and a micro-level analysis of individual environmental predictors of physical activity levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Individuals residing in high-walkable neighborhoods on average engaged in 11 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day more than individuals residing in low-walkable neighborhoods. Both measured access to non-residential destinations (b = .11, <it>p </it>< .001) and self-perceived access to non-residential uses (b = 2.89, <it>p </it>= .031) were significant predictors of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Other environmental variables significantly predicting components of physical activity behavior included presence of measured neighborhood crime signage (b = .4785, <it>p </it>= .031), measured street safety (b = 26.8, <it>p </it>= .006), and perceived neighborhood satisfaction (b = .5.8, <it>p </it>= .003).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Older adult residents who live in high-walkable neighborhoods, who have easy and close access to nonresidential destinations, have lower social dysfunction pertinent to crime, and generally perceive the neighborhood to a higher overall satisfaction are likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity behavior. Efforts aimed at promoting more walkable neighborhoods could influence activity levels in older adults.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:07:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48613ea5223c4a0d9104b219d78bc5be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T06:07:58Z |
| publishDate | 2012-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-48613ea5223c4a0d9104b219d78bc5be2022-12-21T21:18:29ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682012-04-01914010.1186/1479-5868-9-40Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adultsStrath Scott JGreenwald Michael JIsaacs RaymondHart Teresa LLenz Elizabeth KDondzila Christopher JSwartz Ann M<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have investigated both the self-perceived and measured environment with objectively determined physical activity in older adults. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine measured and perceived environmental associations with physical activity of older adults residing across different neighborhood types.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One-hundred and forty-eight older individuals, mean age 64.3 ± 8.4, were randomly recruited from one of four neighborhoods that were pre-determined as either having high- or low walkable characteristics. Individual residences were geocoded and 200 m network buffers established. Both objective environment audit, and self-perceived environmental measures were collected, in conjunction with accelerometer derived physical activity behavior. Using both perceived and objective environment data, analysis consisted of a macro-level comparison of physical activity levels across neighborhood, and a micro-level analysis of individual environmental predictors of physical activity levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Individuals residing in high-walkable neighborhoods on average engaged in 11 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day more than individuals residing in low-walkable neighborhoods. Both measured access to non-residential destinations (b = .11, <it>p </it>< .001) and self-perceived access to non-residential uses (b = 2.89, <it>p </it>= .031) were significant predictors of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Other environmental variables significantly predicting components of physical activity behavior included presence of measured neighborhood crime signage (b = .4785, <it>p </it>= .031), measured street safety (b = 26.8, <it>p </it>= .006), and perceived neighborhood satisfaction (b = .5.8, <it>p </it>= .003).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Older adult residents who live in high-walkable neighborhoods, who have easy and close access to nonresidential destinations, have lower social dysfunction pertinent to crime, and generally perceive the neighborhood to a higher overall satisfaction are likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity behavior. Efforts aimed at promoting more walkable neighborhoods could influence activity levels in older adults.</p>http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/9/1/40 |
| spellingShingle | Strath Scott J Greenwald Michael J Isaacs Raymond Hart Teresa L Lenz Elizabeth K Dondzila Christopher J Swartz Ann M Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| title | Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| title_full | Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| title_fullStr | Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| title_short | Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| title_sort | measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults |
| url | http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/9/1/40 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT strathscottj measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT greenwaldmichaelj measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT isaacsraymond measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT hartteresal measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT lenzelizabethk measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT dondzilachristopherj measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults AT swartzannm measuredandperceivedenvironmentalcharacteristicsarerelatedtoaccelerometerdefinedphysicalactivityinolderadults |