An Umbrella Review of the Best and Most Up-to-Date Evidence on the Built Environment and Physical Activity in Older Adults ≥60 Years

Abstract

Objectives: To present the best and most up-to-date evidence on associations between built environment (BE) attributes and overall and specific domains of physical activity (PA) (i.e., leisure, transport, walking, and cycling) in older adults (≥60 years).Methods: An umbrella review was undertaken to compile evidence from systematic reviews using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. A comprehensive search (updated 16 August 2022), inclusion/exclusion of articles via title/abstract and full-text reviews, data extraction, and critical appraisal were completed. Only reviews with a good critical appraisal score were included.Results: Across three included systematic reviews, each BE attribute category was positively associated with ≥1 PA outcome. A larger number of significant associations with BE attributes were reported for transport walking (13/26), total walking (10/25), and total PA (9/26), compared to leisure walking (4/34) and transport cycling (3/12). Fewer associations have been examined for leisure cycling (1/2).Conclusion: Although the causality of findings cannot be concluded due to most primary studies being cross-sectional, these best and most up-to-date findings can guide necessary future longitudinal and experimental studies for the (re)design of age-friendly communities.

Exploring the Relationship between Built Environment Attributes and Physical Activity in Lower-Income Aging Adults: Preliminary Insights from a Multi-Level Trial

“…While there were many similarities between this lower-income, insufficiently active aging population and those that have been studied previously, several domains of NEWS-A-such as traffic, crime, and hazards that other studies have found to be important-were not included in the final regression models in this investigation due to lack of significance [22,[62][63][64]. Comparing the findings of our study with those of other researchers elucidates that perceptions of aesthetics and street connectivity seem to be similarly important to PA in this specific insufficiently active midlife and older adult population as well as in the general aging population [62,63,65].…”

“…Individual perceptions of the built environment, as measured primarily by NEWS-A or its full-length precursor, NEWS, have consistently shown associations with PA outcomes [59]. For example, a recent meta-analysis by Stearns et al (2023) reported significant positive associations between total PA and total walking with greenery and aesthetically pleasing scenery, as well as a positive association between street connectivity and walking for transportation [22]. Both quantitative and qualitative studies have also indicated the importance of aesthetic components such as shady trees and the presence of attractive features in facilitating PA behaviors, especially for older adults [28,60].…”

“…We report β coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CI) representing the change in the PA outcome (min/wk), corresponding to a one point increase in the respective NEWS-A domain score. Based on a priori knowledge of differences in PA behaviors and mobility needs between people in these two life stages, we also conducted age group stratified analyses and examined whether there were differences in associations within the midlife (40-64 years old; n = 78) and older adult (≥65 years old; n = 177) subgroups [22,28]. Although we did not find a significant interaction between age group and each NEWS-A domain, we nonetheless ran stratified analyses for descriptive purposes.…”

“…The built environment, encompassing the human-designed physical spaces with which people interact daily (e.g., sidewalks, parks, transportation systems), is a key determinant of PA behaviors and overall health and wellness [19][20][21]. Cross-sectional studies from North America, East Asia, and Europe have provided evidence of associations between objectively and subjectively assessed measures of the built environment with walking or other forms of PA [22][23][24][25][26][27]. However, although associations between the built environment and PA behavior have been well documented in the literature, it is important to acknowledge that many aspects of the built environment may be differentially linked to PA behaviors across different socioeconomic and age groups.…”

Meteorological gaps in audits of pedestrian environments: a scoping review

“…Walking, cycling, and wheeling are among the most popular forms of PA [13], and heavily rely on supportive pedestrian streetscapes [4,21,22]. As weather and climate conditions change, and to mitigate further climate changes through promotion of active transportation modes like walking, it is increasingly important for urban design and planning to consider impact of weather on pedestrians.…”