Associations between individual factors, environmental factors, and outdoor independence in older adults

Abstract

The degree to which individuals can accomplish outdoor activity by themselves or require support is an important facet of successful aging. While prior research focuses on participation in outdoor activity, understanding of older adults' outdoor independence is limited. We adopt an ecological approach to examine the role of individual factors and environmental factors in explaining outdoor independence. Our sample comprised older adults aged 65 + living in a medium-sized city in Germany (N = 1070). The results show that being male, younger, and healthier was positively associated with outdoor independence, while living together was not. Further, outdoor independence decreased with higher levels of perceived environmental barriers. This negative association was moderated such that it was stronger for the less healthy and older participants. Based on our empirical findings, we offer insights for policy makers, urban planners, and community groups to design age-friendly communities and consequently facilitate outdoor independence among older adults.

Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions of Loneliness amongst Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

“…The aging process is frequently associated with health problems that lead to functional limitations and dependency [49,50]. This results in limited social interactions [51] due to physical consequences such as decreased mobility [52] or due to the architectural impediments of their surroundings [53][54][55]. However, cultural factors or negatives ideas surrounding care homes lead to some older adults preferring being lonely within their own homes than being in the company of people they do not know [56,57].…”

A Policy Framework for Producing Age-Friendly Communities from the Perspective of Production of Space

“…The new papers can still reflect the theoretical trend found in the analysis of this study. It validated that scholars still use the six groups of theories to study age-friendly community: (1) ecological theory [ 148 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 , 154 , 155 ], (2) the production of space [ 156 , 157 , 158 , 159 , 160 , 161 ], (3) social-related theories [ 98 , 162 , 163 , 164 , 165 , 166 , 167 , 168 , 169 ], (4) place-related theories [ 170 , 171 , 172 , 173 , 174 , 175 , 176 ], (5) governing-related theory [ 177 , 178 , 179 , 180 , 181 ], and (6) individual-centred theories [ 182 , 183 , 184 , 185 , 186 , 187 , 188 ]. In addition, more researchers find the importance of studying the social dynamic and individual experience in age-friendly community development.…”

Lower levels of physical activity are associated with pain progression in older adults, a longitudinal study

“…For example, counselling individuals around specific exercise beliefs and values has been shown to be successful in increasing physical activity and self‐efficacy (Lilienthal et al., 2014). At the societal level, addressing environmental barriers through improved safe walking paths, access to public transport and toilet facilities, as well as offering low‐cost, organized, age‐friendly activities providing social interaction, could help meet the needs of older adults (Schehl & Leukel, 2020).…”