Associations of physical activity with neighborhood environments and transportation modes in older Japanese adults

Abstract

Objective: We investigated associations of walking and other leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with environmental characteristics and transportation modes in older Japanese adults. Methods:This cross-sectional study in 2010-2011 used data from 421 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-85 years living in Kasama City, rural Japan. We used the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly to assess walking and other LTPAs, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environment Module for neighborhood environments. Results:After adjusting for confounders, we found that good traffic safety and aesthetics were positively associated with high levels of walking (ORs=1.64-2.12); whereas, good access to public transportation was negatively associated with walking (OR=0.64, 95% CI=0.42-0.98). Good access to recreational facilities, presence of sidewalks, absence of hills, seeing people exercise, and aesthetically pleasing surroundings were positively associated with high levels of LTPA except walking (ORs=1.61-2.13). Individuals who rode bicycles more than once per week were more likely to engage in a LTPA except walking (1-3 days:OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.03-2.87; ≥ 4 days: OR=2.90, 95% CI=1.71-4.93). Conclusion:This study adds information on correlates of physical activity among older Japanese adults; the positive association between LTPA except walking and the frequency of bicycle travel is an especially new and intriguing finding.

Association between out‐of‐home trips and older adults' functional fitness

“…This interesting finding provides new insights. It is distinctly different from the findings of research carried out in North America, Europe and Australia, which explore those relationships between environments and physical activity participation in different urban designs and cultures …”

Age and gender differences in correlations of leisure‐time, household, and work‐related physical activity with physical performance in older Japanese adults

“…We mailed invitation letters to 3000 people aged 65-85 years (1200 individuals in 2009, 900 individuals each in 2010 and 2011) randomly drawn from the Basic Resident Register. 19 A total of 570 people participated in the study carried out in the Health Center in Kasama City. People aged 86 years and over were excluded from the study, as the longevity of people's 17 physical functions might be strongly affected by genetics.…”

Health implications of transport: Evidence of effects of transport on social interactions

“…Updating this literature review in Feb 2015, SB identified a small number of newer studies, corroborating the effect of the neighbourhood environment on walking for transport (Van Cauwenberg et al, 2014;Jia et al, 2014); of traffic on travel behaviour Tsunoda et al, 2012); and that transport problems can cause psychological distress (Taylor et al, 2012).…”