Objective Measures of Neighborhood Environment and Physical Activity in Older Women

Background:Concurrent validity of Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) items was evaluated with objective measures of the built environment using geographic information systems (GIS).Methods:A sample of 878 parents of children 10 to 16 years old (mean age 43.5 years, SD = 6.8, 34.8% non-White, 63.8% overweight) completed NEWS and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. GIS was used to develop 1-mile street network buffers around participants’ residences. GIS measures of the built environment within participants’ buffers included percent of commercial and institutional land uses; number of schools and colleges, recreational facilities, parks, transit stops, and trees; land topography; and traffic congestion.Results:Except for trees and traffic, concordance between the NEWS and GIS measures were significant, with weak to moderate effect sizes (r = −0.09 to −0.36, all P ≤ 01). After participants were stratified by physical activity level, stronger concordance was observed among active participants for some measures. A sensitivity analysis of self-reported distance to 15 neighborhood destinations found a 20-minute (compared with 10- or 30-minute) walking threshold generally had the strongest correlations with GIS measures.Conclusions:These findings provide evidence of the concurrent validity of self-reported built environment items with objective measures. Physically active adults may be more knowledgeable about their neighborhood characteristics.

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Positive Association of Physical Activity with Both Objective and Perceived Measures of the Neighborhood Environment among Older Adults: The Aichi Workers’ Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17217971 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (21) ◽

pp. 7971

Author(s):

Yuanying Li ◽

Hiroshi Yatsuya ◽

Tomoya Hanibuchi ◽

Atsuhiko Ota ◽

Hisao Naito ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Positive Association ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Japanese Adults ◽

Japanese Residents

We examined the association between objective and perceived neighborhood characteristics and self-reported leisure-time physical activity (PA) in older Japanese residents living in areas ranging from metropolitan to rural in 2016. Objective measures used were walkability and the numbers of parks/green spaces and sports facilities within 500 or 1000 m of subjects’ homes, calculated using geographic information systems. Subjective measures were the subjects’ perceptions of their neighborhoods, assessed using a structured questionnaire. All variables were divided into three groups, and the lowest tertile was used as the reference. We assessed the location and frequency of strolling or brisk walking, moderate-intensity PA, and vigorous-intensity PA (sports) using a self-reported questionnaire and defined as performing a certain type of PA 3–4 times/week as a habit. Living in a neighborhood in the highest tertile for walkability and number of parks/green spaces as well as perception of having good access to recreational facilities, observing others exercising and the presence of walkable sidewalks was associated with walking and sports habits (multivariable odds ratios (ORs): 1.33–2.46, all p < 0.05). Interestingly, objective measures of PA-friendly environmental features were inversely associated with moderate-intensity PA habits, potentially because moderate-intensity PA consisted predominantly of gardening. In conclusion, living in an environment supportive of PA, whether objectively or subjectively measured, is related to leisure-time PA habits among older Japanese adults.

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The Relationship between Convenience of Destinations and Walking Levels in Older Women

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/0890-1171-18.1.74 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 74-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 138

Author(s):

Wendy C. King ◽

Jennifer S. Brach ◽

Steven Belle ◽

Richard Killingsworth ◽

Mark Fenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Women ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Walking Distance ◽

Positive Trend ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neighborhood Walkability ◽

The Relationship

Purpose. To examine the relationship between physical activity and (1) convenience of destinations, measured by whether destinations (such as a park, trail, businesses, and services) are within walking distance of the home, and (2) participants' perception of the quality of their neighborhood surroundings for walking, captured with a global neighborhood “walkability” rating. Design. Cross-sectional analysis of data obtained in 1999. Setting. Community in southwest Pennsylvania. Subjects. Older Caucasian women (n = 149, mean age = 74.2 years). Response rate = 79%. Measures. Walking levels, leisure-time physical activity, and features of the neighborhood environment were measured with interviewer-administered questionnaires. Physical activity was also measured objectively with a pedometer. Results. Living within walking distance (defined as within a 20-minute walk of home) of a park; biking or walking trail; or department, discount, or hardware store was related to higher pedometer readings ( p < .01). In addition, there was a positive trend between the sum of destinations within walking distance of home and activity levels measured by pedometer and questionnaire ( p < .01). There was also a positive trend between participants' neighborhood “walkability” rating and activity levels measured by pedometer and questionnaire ( p < .01). Conclusion. These findings suggest that the ability to make utilitarian walking trips from home and the perception of having favorable neighborhood surroundings for walking are associated with increased physical activity levels in older women.

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Device-Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviors, Built Environment, and Adiposity Gain in Older Women: A Seven-Year Prospective Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063074 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3074

Author(s):

Pablo Molina-Garcia ◽

María Medrano ◽

Jana Pelclová ◽

Izabela Zając-Gawlak ◽

Lenka Tlučáková ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Built Environment ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Older Women ◽

Bioelectrical Impedance ◽

The Body ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Sedentary Behaviors

The search for determinants of adiposity gain in older women has become vitally important. This study aimed to (1) analyze the adiposity gain based on the participants’ age and (2) determine the prospective associations of baseline intrapersonal, built environment, physical activity, and sedentary behavior variables with the adiposity gain in older women. This was a seven-year prospective study (baseline: 2009 to 2012; follow-up: 2016 to 2019) in older women (n = 178, baseline age = 62.8 ± 4.1 years). Baseline and follow-up adiposity (bioelectrical impedance) and baseline physical activity, sedentary behavior (accelerometers), and intrapersonal and built environment (Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale questionnaire) variables were included. The body mass index (BMI) increment tended to be inversely associated with the women’s age (p = 0.062). At follow-up, 48, 57, and 54% of the women had a relevant increase (d-Cohen > 0.2) in their BMI, percentage of body fat, and fat mass index, respectively. The women that spent ≥8 h/day being sedentary were 2.2 times (1.159 to 4.327 CI95%, p < 0.02) more likely to increase BMI (0.82 to 0.85 kg/m2) than non-sedentary women. No built environment variables were associated with seven-year adiposity gain (all ps > 0.05). A reduction in sedentary time should be promoted for adiposity gain prevention and health preservation in older women.

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Obesity as a moderator of the relationship between neighborhood environment and objective measures of physical activity in chilean adults

Journal of Transport & Health ◽

10.1016/j.jth.2019.100614 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 100614

Author(s):

Damián Chandia-Poblete ◽

Nicolas Aguilar-Farias ◽

Pamela Serón ◽

Sergio Muñoz ◽

Teresa Balboa-Castillo

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Objective Measures ◽

The Relationship

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Objective Measures of Neighborhood Environment and Self-Reported Physical Activity in Spinal Cord Injured Men

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation ◽

10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.017 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 1468-1473 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Huifang Liang ◽

Kristin Tomey ◽

David Chen ◽

Nina L. Savar ◽

James H. Rimmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Spinal Cord Injured

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Perceived and Objectively Measured Environmental Correlates of Domain-Specific Physical Activity in Older English Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2015-0241 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 599-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Yu-Tzu Wu ◽

Natalia R. Jones ◽

Esther M.F. van Sluijs ◽

Simon J. Griffin ◽

Nicholas J. Wareham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Geographical Information ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Recreational Activity ◽

Environmental Correlates ◽

Domain Specific ◽

Objectively Measured

We examine the relative importance of both objective and perceived environmental features for physical activity in older English adults. Self-reported physical activity levels of 8,281 older adults were used to compute volumes of outdoor recreational and commuting activity. Perceptions of neighborhood environment supportiveness were drawn from a questionnaire survey and a geographical information system was used to derive objective measures. Negative binominal regression models were fitted to examine associations. Perceptions of neighborhood environment were more associated with outdoor recreational activity (over 10% change per standard deviation) than objective measures (5–8% change). Commuting activity was associated with several objective measures (up to 16% change). We identified different environmental determinants of recreational and commuting activity in older adults. Perceptions of environmental supportiveness for recreational activity appear more important than actual neighborhood characteristics. Understanding how older people perceive neighborhoods might be key to encouraging outdoor recreational activity.

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Measuring the Influence of Built Neighborhood Environments on Walking in Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.14.3.302 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 302-312 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Yvonne Michael ◽

Tracey Beard ◽

Dongseok Choi ◽

Stephanie Farquhar ◽

Nichole Carlson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Geographic Information Systems ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Age And Gender ◽

Low Degree ◽

And Gender ◽

Degree Of Association

There is a need for greater understanding of how perceptions and objective measures of the physical environment influence physical activity among seniors. The goal of this study was to examine the degree of association between perceived and objective characteristics of the neighborhood environment and the relation of each type of measurement to neighborhood walking in older adults. Data on self-reported frequency of walking in the neighborhood and perceived measures of neighborhood environment from 105 older adults were linked to objective measures assessed by geographic information systems and an audit instrument. Perceived and objective measurements of the built environment exhibited a low degree of agreement (kappas: <.20). After adjustment for education, age, and gender, presence of a mall was positively associated with neighborhood walking in both the objective and perceived models.

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A Systematic Review of Agreement Between Perceived and Objective Neighborhood Environment Measures and Associations With Physical Activity Outcomes

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916516670982 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 49 (8) ◽

pp. 904-932 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Stephanie L. Orstad ◽

Meghan H. McDonough ◽

Shauna Stapleton ◽

Ceren Altincekic ◽

Philip J. Troped

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Unique Variance ◽

Environment Variables ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Perceived Neighborhood Environment

A number of review studies document associations between the perceived and objectively measured neighborhood environment and physical activity. However, current evidence does not discern whether perceived or objective variables more consistently predict physical activity. A review is needed to examine the comparability of these variables and the consistency of their respective associations with the same physical activity outcome. We systematically searched three databases for studies that examined agreement between perceived and objective measures and/or associations between comparable variables and physical activity. We abstracted 85 relevant peer-reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2015, synthesized agreement coefficients, and compared these variables’ associations with physical activity. Perceived neighborhood environment variables were significantly associated with physical activity ( p < .05) at slightly higher rates than objective neighborhood environment variables (20.1% and 13.7%). Comparably defined variables exhibited low agreement and only 8.2% were associated with the same outcome. The perceived neighborhood environment and objectively measured neighborhood environment are related but distinct constructs that account for unique variance in physical activity.

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