Association between social and built environments and leisure-time physical activity among Chinese older adults - a multilevel analysis

Abstract

BackgroundSocial and physical environments are not only hypothesized to influence physical activity (PA), they are also interrelated and influence each other. However, few studies have examined the relationships of PA with social and physical environments simultaneously. Accordingly, the current study aims to examine the association between physical and social attributes of neighborhood with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among the Chinese elders.MethodsBy employing a two-stage stratified random sampling procedure, 2783 elders were identified from 47 neighborhoods in Shanghai during July and September in 2014. Social and physical attributes of neighborhood were assessed using a validated and psychometrically tested measures, and the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Long Form was used to assess LTPA. Control variables included sex, age, marital status, education level, self-rated health and chronic conditions. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore whether individual- and neighborhood-level social and physical attributes were associated with LTPA.ResultsThe overall prevalence of leisure-time active (LTA) was 46.6 %. After controlling for individual covariates, 1) compared to participants with the first quartile of social participation, the odds ratios of LTA for participants with the second, third and fourth quartile of social participation were 1.86 (95 % CI: 1.44–2.41), 2.37 (95 % CI: 1.82–3.08) and 4.27 (95 % CI: 3.27–5.58); 2) compared to participants with the first quartile of social cohesion, the odds ratios of LTA for participants with the second, third and fourth quartile of social cohesion were 1.09 (95 % CI: 1.07–1.20), 1.14 (95 % CI: 1.08–3.50) and 1.31 (95 % CI: 1.11–1.58); 3) compared to participants living in neighborhoods with the first quartile of walkability, the odds ratios of LTA for participants living in neighborhoods with the second, third and fourth quartile of walkability were 1.13 (95 % CI: 1.03–2.02), 1.73 (95 % CI: 1.12–3.21) and 1.85 (95 % CI: 1.19–3.35).ConclusionsBoth social and physical attribute of neighborhood associate with LTPA among Chinese older adults. It may promote LTPA among Chinese older adults to encourage them to participate in social activities, meanwhile, building walkable and cohesive neighborhoods.

Relationships between neighborhood attributes and subjective well-being among the Chinese elderly: Data from Shanghai

“…The scales used to measure these dimensions were developed by Mujahid and colleagues (33). As described in detail previously (31), the original scale was initially translated into Chinese, and the Chinese version was then translated back into English to verify that the content of the original scale was maintained. The aesthetic quality (AQ) subscale consisted of 5 items, the walkability subscale consisted of 7 items, the social interaction with neighbors subscale consisted of 5 items, and the social cohesion subscale consisted of 4 items.…”

“…The subdistrict has a stable population structure and built environment, which make it a suitable place to examine the effects of the perceived social and physical attributes of a neighborhood on health. The study design and sampling approach has been described previously (31). Briefly, the first stage consisted of the selection of 47 neighborhoods by purposive sampling that took into account environmental factors such as accessibility to services, aesthetics, and street connectivity.…”

Ambiente construído, renda contextual e obesidade em idosos: evidências de um estudo de base populacional

“…Meanwhile, the higher percentage of local commerce reflects greater access to common destinations such as restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and services, which promotes commuting on foot and other active behaviors 13,18 . The absence or low proportion of paved streets in neighborhoods can also contribute to a lower supply of services focused on the prevention of obesity, such as workout gyms and recreational clubs 39 .…”

Differences in Walkability Influence Residents’ Hypertension in Taiwan: An Analysis of Open Government Data

“…5 Greater walkability could advance the volume, opportunity, and motivation of physical activity and less sedentary behavior. 12,13 It is necessary to use urban design to build healthy and walkable neighborhoods. 14 Previous studies have demonstrated several features of walkability in a neighborhood environment.…”

“…Population/residential density, street connectivity, traffic, aesthetic, mixed land uses (e.g., the accessibility of public infrastructure, such as parks, sport facilities, shops), socioeconomic status (SES), and the crime rate are all indicators of walkability. 6,11,12,15 The measurement of indicators of walkability can be subjective (e.g., perceived questionnaires) or objective (e.g., open data and geographic information systems).…”