Environmental, Individual and Personal Goal Influences on Older Adults’ Walking in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Bibliographic Data

ID15465997
AuthorsTiina Laatikainen (0000-0002-6614-4782, Aalto University, corresponding author), Tiina E Laatikainen (Aalto University), Mohammad Haybatollahi (0000-0001-7400-9727, University of Helsinki), Marketta Kyttä (0000-0001-9969-8194, Aalto University)
Year2018
Volume16
Issue1
Pages58-58
Publication date2018-12-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph16010058
PMID30587821
OpenAlexW2905759834
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited75

Physical activity is a fundamental factor in healthy ageing, and the built environment has been linked to individual health outcomes. Understanding the linkages between older adult's walking and the built environment are key to designing supportive environments for active ageing. However, the variety of different spatial scales of human mobility has been largely overlooked in the environmental health research. This study used an online participatory mapping method and a novel modelling of individual activity spaces to study the associations between both the environmental and the individual features and older adults' walking in the environments where older adult's actually move around. Study participants ( n = 844) aged 55+ who live in Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland reported their everyday errand points on a map and indicated which transport mode they used and how frequently they accessed the places. Respondents walking trips were drawn from the data and the direct and indirect effects of the personal, psychological as well as environmental features on older adults walking were examined. Respondents marked on average, six everyday errand points and walked for transport an average of 20 km per month. Residential density and the density of walkways, public transit stops, intersections and recreational sports places were significantly and positively associated with older adult's walking for transport. Transit stop density was found having the largest direct effect to older adults walking. Built environment had an independent effect on older adults walking regardless of individual demographic or psychological features. Education and personal goals related to physical activities had a direct positive, and income a direct negative, effect on walking. Gender and perceived health had an indirect effect on walking, which was realized through individuals' physical activity goals

Built environment · Environmental health · Geography · Injury prevention · Level design · Metropolitan area · Poison control · Public transport · Recreation · Transport engineering · Travel behavior · TRIPS architecture · Walkability · Engineering · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Noise Effects and Management · Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Transport and Accessibility · Ecology · Gerontology

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