Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Walking for Specific Purposes Among Elderly Japanese

Abstract

BackgroundRecent research has revealed the importance of neighborhood environment as a determinant of physical activity. However, evidence among elderly adults is limited. This study examined the association between perceived neighborhood environment and walking for specific purposes among Japanese elderly adults.MethodsThis population-based, cross-sectional study enrolled 1921 participants (age: 65–74 years, men: 51.9%). Neighborhood environment (International Physical Activity Questionnaire Environmental Module) and walking for specific purposes (ie, transportation or recreation) were assessed by self-report. Multilevel logistic regression analyses with individuals at level 1 and neighborhoods at level 2 were conducted to examine the association between environment and walking, after adjustment for potential confounders.ResultsAccess to exercise facilities, social environment, and aesthetics were associated with total neighborhood walking. Odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.23 (1.00–1.51), 1.39 (1.14–1.71), and 1.48 (1.21–1.81), respectively. Regarding walking for specific purposes, social environment and aesthetics were consistent correlates of both transportation walking and recreational walking. Environmental correlates differed by specific types of walking and by sex. Transportation walking significantly correlated with a greater variety of environmental attributes. Sex differences were observed, especially for transportation walking. Bicycle lanes, crime safety, traffic safety, aesthetics, and household motor vehicles were significant correlates among men, while access to shops, access to exercise facilities, and social environment were important among women.ConclusionsSpecific environment–walking associations differed by walking purpose and sex among elderly adults. Social environment and aesthetics were consistent correlates of both transportation walking and recreational walking. Improving these environmental features might be effective in promoting physical activity among elderly Japanese.

Mental illness and a high‐risk, elderly Japanese population: characteristic differences related to gender and residential location

“…NPD level was dichotomized based on recommended cut-off points; low (0-4) or high (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), which maximize the sum of sensitivity and specificity. 20,23 Other independent variables were categorized as follows: age (65-69 years or 70-74 years); years of education (<13 years or ≥13 years (attended or completed university)), working hours (not working (0 hours), part-time work (1-34 hours), or full-time work (≥35 hours)), and physical limitation (No (not at all) or Yes (very little, somewhat, quite a lot, and could not do daily work)).…”

“…18 This cross-sectional study was conducted through a postal survey with a sample of 2700 community residents, aged 65-74 years, living in three Japanese municipalities: Bunkyo in Tokyo (urban setting), Fuchu in Tokyo (suburban setting) and Oyama in Shizuoka Prefecture (rural setting) (Fig. 1).…”

Features of perceived neighborhood environment associated with daily walking time or habitual exercise: differences across gender, age, and employment status in a community–dwelling population of Japan

“…Several studies showed that proximity and accessibility to destinations such as shops and service facilities especially influence transport walking [20,29]. Accessibility to various destinations has been reported to be associated with longer WT [10,11] and many studies reported gender difference in the association [14,16,19,21,27,28]. Accessibility to abundant destinations would be important for females because of their social role in daily house work, including daily shopping, especially in Japan.…”

“…Thus, the association between perceived NE and walking or exercise behavior possibly varies according to gender and age groups. However, the majority of studies considered gender or age as covariates in statistical analysis, and a few studies focused on only gender difference [14][15][16][17][18][19], or only age-group difference [20], or specific gender or specific age group [21][22][23]. There is no published study that has revealed gender and age group differences in the association between perceived NE and daily walking time (WT) or habitual exercise (HE) simultaneously in a population.…”

Sociodemographic, biological, psychological, and behavioral correlates of cycling in community-dwelling Japanese older adults: A cross-sectional study

“…This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010. The study sample was randomly selected from a population of adults aged 65 to 74 years living in one of three Japanese cities, and was stratified by gender (men, women), age group (65-69 years, 70-74 years) and city (900 from each); 1350 residents of each gender, 1350 residents of each age group, and 900 residents from each area were identified 23) . In terms of the three cities, three municipalities of various urbanizations -one each from a metropolitan urban area, a suburban area, and a rural area -were chosen according to population density level.…”