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

Due to the poor functioning in daily living activities, community-dwelling older adults spend more time in their neighborhood environment. The perceived neighborhood environment is crucial to their quality of life (QoL). To explore the complex influences of perceived neighborhood environment on QoL, a questionnaire was designed to measure their perception of each factor of neighborhood environment and each domain of QoL. Based on collected data, the reliability test was applied to revise the questionnaire. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were adopted to hypothesize and test the integrated model for community-dwelling older adults. The results show that community-dwelling older adults’ perceptions of neighbor support, facilities related to physical exercise and recreation, and accessibility to facilities impact their overall QoL with diverse coefficients of 0.437, 0.312, and 0.295, respectively; neighbor support (0.207) on physical health; sidewalk condition (0.134), natural environment (0.260), and facilities related to daily life (0.165) on psychological health; and neighbor support (0.298), facilities related to daily life (0.206), and design-related safety (0.225) on social relationship. This revealed that perceptions of neighborhood environment have diverse impacts on their QoL. This study can provide targeted retrofit strategies for communities to enhance QoL of community-dwelling older adults efficiently.

Download Full-text

Diverse contributions of multiple mediators to the impact of perceived neighborhood environment on the overall quality of life of community-dwelling seniors: A cross-sectional study in Nanjing, China

Habitat International ◽

10.1016/j.habitatint.2020.102253 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 104 ◽

pp. 102253

Author(s):

Fan Zhang ◽

Dezhi Li ◽

Albert P.C. Chan

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Impact ◽

Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Download Full-text

The Effect of Neighborhood Experiences on Positive Mental Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1408 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 436-436

Author(s):

Daniel R Y Gan ◽

Grand H-L Cheng ◽

Tze Pin Ng ◽

John Chye Fung ◽

Im Sik Cho

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Path Analysis ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Psychosocial Health ◽

Positive Mental Health ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Community Based Interventions ◽

Psychosocial Wellbeing

Abstract Given reduced life spaces, the neighborhood often functions as a social venue for older adults. Yet how these everyday social spaces affect older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing remains largely unknown. Drawing on the GRP-CARE Survey data, this paper examined the relation between neighborhood experiences and positive mental health. Participants were 601 community-dwelling Singaporeans aged 50+ who lived in public housing neighborhoods. Neighborhood experiences were measured using the four-factorial, 16-item OpenX scale (Gan, Fung, Cho, 2019); positive mental health was measured using a six-factorial, 19-item scale (Vaingankar et al., 2011). Both scales have good psychometric properties and had been validated. Path analysis between relevant factors of both scales was conducted using Stata, within a theorized model of causation from neighborhood environment to social factors to psychosocial health. Age, education, ethnicity and sex were controlled for. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a strong, positive association between neighborhood experiences and mental health (p=0.000) even after controlling for personal traits (operationalized as depressive symptoms, GDS) in addition to sociodemographic variables. Path analysis showed that two distinct neighborhood health processes mediated this association. These were (1) the potential for a sense of community in the neighborhood improved emotional support, and (2) having better neighborly friendships improved interpersonal skills. These neighborhood health processes provide us with new lenses to understand older adults’ everyday experiences of their neighborhoods. Community-based interventions to improve older adults’ psychosocial wellbeing may be developed to facilitate these processes. Spatial and programmatic implications will be discussed in relation to age-friendly cities and communities (AFCC).

Download Full-text

Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Mobility Limitations Among Community-dwelling Older Americans: The Mediating Roles of Depressive Symptoms and Mastery

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/00914150211037657 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 009141502110376

Author(s):

Fei Wang ◽

Weidi Qin ◽

Jiao Yu

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Future Research ◽

Social Aspect ◽

Mobility Limitations ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neighborhood Social Cohesion

Neighborhood environment plays an important role in late-life health; yet, the social aspect of neighborhood environment and its impact on mobility limitations have rarely been examined. This nonexperimental, cross-sectional study examines the relationship between neighborhood social cohesion and mobility limitations and the potential mediators (i.e., depressive symptoms, mastery) of this relationship. A total of 8,317 Americans aged 65 years and older were selected from the Health and Retirement Study. Using ordinary least squares regressions, this study shows that neighborhood social cohesion was negatively associated with mobility limitations ( B = −0.04, p < .01). A Sobel test of mediation indicated that this relationship was significantly mediated by depressive symptoms ( z = −9.10, p < .001) and mastery ( z = −8.86, p < .001). Findings suggest that neighborhood cohesion can reduce mobility limitations through mitigating depressive symptoms and increasing mastery. Future research should disentangle the temporal ordering of the mediators.

Download Full-text

PERCEIVED NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT AND THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OLDER ADULTS IN URBAN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnw162.2759 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽

pp. 677-677

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Subsidized Housing ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Perceived Neighborhood Environment

Download Full-text

QOL Models Constructed for the Community-dwelling Elderly with ikigai (purpose in life) as a Composition Factor, and the Effect of Habitual Exercise

Journal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY and Applied Human Science ◽

10.2114/jpa.24.525 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 525-533 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Shinichi Demura ◽

Hidetsugu Kobayashi ◽

Tamotsu Kitabayashi

Keyword(s):

Purpose In Life ◽

Composition Factor ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Habitual Exercise

Download Full-text

Quality of life and social support: Perspectives of Saudi Arabian stroke survivors

Science Progress ◽

10.1177/0036850420947603 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (3) ◽

pp. 003685042094760

Author(s):

Abdulrahman M Alshahrani

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Social Support ◽

Employment Status ◽

Family Income ◽

Community Education ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Stroke Survivors ◽

Critical Knowledge ◽

Multivariate Multiple Regression

Given that stroke is an indispensable health burden in Saudi Arabia and around the world, great importance has been attached on studies of social support and other factors that could improve the quality of life of stroke survivors. Perceptions of quality of life and social support may vary depending on patients’ cultural and societal background. This research assessed the quality of life and social support of community-dwelling Saudis who survived stroke. A quantitative study was performed among 123 Saudi stroke survivors. Questionnaire-guided interviews measuring social support and quality of life were performed, and the multivariate effects of predictor variables on the four domains of quality of life were determined through multivariate multiple regression analysis. Among the dimensions of social support, support from family members had the highest average, whereas support from friends had the lowest. The environmental domain of quality of life was perceived to be the best aspect, whereas physical health was perceived to be the poorest. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, gender, employment status, monthly family income, type of community, education, type of stroke, side of stroke and support from significant others had multivariate influences on the domains of quality of life. Several sociodemographic and disease-related variables and social support influence patients’ quality of life. The study adds critical knowledge as to how Arab stroke survivors perceive their quality of life and social support. Ensuring that stroke survivors receive adequate social support is imperative because it can improve their quality of life.

Download Full-text

Fall-related efficacy is a useful and independent index to detect fall risk in Japanese community-dwelling older people: a 1-year longitudinal study

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-019-1318-5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Naoto Kamide ◽

Yoshitaka Shiba ◽

Miki Sakamoto ◽

Haruhiko Sato ◽

Akie Kawamura

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older People ◽

Physical Performance ◽

Fall Risk ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Confounding Factors ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Community Dwelling Older People ◽

Walking Time

Abstract Background Fall-related efficacy has been found to be associated with both falls and fall risk factors such as physical performance. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether fall-related efficacy is, independent of physical performance and other potential risk factors, associated with future falls in community-dwelling older people. Methods The study participants were 237 Japanese older people aged 65 years and over who were living independently in their community. Fall-related efficacy and physical performance were assessed at baseline using the short version of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (short FES-I) and 5-m walking time, the Timed Up and Go Test, the 5 Times Sit to Stand Test, and grip strength. Physical performance was then again assessed at 1-year follow-up. The number of falls was obtained every 6 months for 1 year after the baseline survey. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), depression, fall history, current medications, medical history, and pain were also investigated as potential confounding factors that have possible associations with falls. The associations between the short FES-I, physical performance, and number of falls were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis adjusted for physical performance and potential confounding factors. Results The mean age of the participants (75.9% women) was 71.1 ± 4.6 years, and 92.8% could perform IADL independently. The total numbers of falls and fallers during the 1-year follow-up period were 70 and 42, respectively. On Poisson regression analysis adjusted for walking time and potential confounding factors, independent of physical performance, the short FES-I was found to be significantly associated with number of falls (relative risk = 1.09, p < 0.05). On the other hand, physical performance was not significantly associated with the number of falls. Conclusions The findings of the present study suggest that the short FES-I, independent of physical performance and other potential risk factors, is a useful index to detect fall risk in community-dwelling older people, and that fall-related efficacy is an important factor in terms of fall prevention.

Download Full-text