Exploring sex differences in the longitudinal association between streetlighting and transport walking
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6426727 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tharindu Niwarthana Bandara (0000-0002-9767-6810, RMIT University), Gavin Turrell (0000-0002-3576-8744, RMIT University), Alysha De Livera (0000-0003-4981-4155, La Trobe University), Belen Zapata-Diomedi (0000-0002-9238-0375, RMIT University), Lucy Gunn (0000-0002-9309-3626, RMIT University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 93 |
| Pages | 103442-103442 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health & Place (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1353-8292 • E-ISSN: 1873-2054 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103442 |
| PMID | 40187119 |
| OpenAlex | W4409200318 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 29 |
Regular physical activity, such as transport walking, is essential for health, yet many adults do not meet recommended physical activity levels. The built environment, particularly streetlighting, plays a critical role in promoting transport walking. However, existing evidence on the relationship between streetlighting and transport walking is largely cross-sectional, with limited longitudinal research exploring potential sex differences. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal association between objectively measured streetlight count and transport walking among mid-to-older-aged adults in Brisbane, Australia, and to explore whether this association varies by sex. Data were from the How Areas in Brisbane Influence HealTh and AcTivity (HABITAT) study, a multilevel cohort study with five waves over nine years (2007-2016). The analytical sample included participants who did not move during the study. Transport walking was self-reported and dichotomized into walkers and non-walkers. Streetlight counts within a 1 km road network buffer around participants' homes were measured alongside transport walking. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used, adjusting for sociodemographic factors, length of stay, neighbourhood preference, and built environment attributes. Higher streetlight counts were positively associated with transport walking (OR 1.002; 95% CI 1.001, 1.002), and the association remained significant after adjusting for residential density, street connectivity, and land-use mix. No significant sex differences were found. This study provides longitudinal evidence that well-lit environments promote transport walking among mid-to-older-aged adults. This finding can inform urban planning and public health policies aimed at encouraging transport walking to help reduce the risk of chronic disease
Association (psychology · Geography · Sociology · Demography · Impact of Light on Environment and Health · Psychology · Transportation Planning and Optimization · Urban Transport and Accessibility
Information bias in health research
The Importance of Walking to Public Health
The neighbourhood physical environment and active travel in older adults
Reducing Crime Through Environmental Design
How Do Neighbourhood Definitions Influence the Associations between Built Environment and Physical Activity
Longitudinal associations between built environment characteristics and changes in active commuting
Habitat
Physical environmental factors related to walking and cycling in older adults
Longitudinal effects of the built environment on transportation and recreational walking and differences by age and sex
Exploring Associations Between Perceived Measures of the Environment and Walking Among Brazilian Older Adults
The potential for walkability to narrow neighbourhood socioeconomic inequalities in physical function
Associations between changes in crime and changes in walking for transport with effect measure modification by gender
The impact of neighborhood walkability on walking
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |