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Natural Landscape, Infrastructure, and Health: The Physical Activity Implications of Urban Green Space Composition among the Elderly

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  • Carme Miralles-Guasch

    (Geography Department and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Javier Dopico

    (Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Xavier Delclòs-Alió

    (Institute of Urban and Regional Development, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-1820 CA, USA)

  • Pablo Knobel

    (Environment and Human Health Lab (EH2 Lab) and Institute of Environmental Sc +ience and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Oriol Marquet

    (ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Roser Maneja-Zaragoza

    (Environment and Human Health Lab (EH2 Lab) and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Jasper Schipperijn

    (Research Unit for Active Living, Department of Sport Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, 5230, Denmark)

  • Guillem Vich

    (Geography Department, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Urban green spaces (UGS) have been linked with a series of benefits for the environment, and for the physical health and well-being of urban residents. This is of great importance in the context of the aging of modern societies. However, UGS have different forms and characteristics that can determine their utilization. Common elements in UGS such as the type of vegetation and the type of surface are surprisingly understudied in regard to their relationship with the type of activity undertaken in UGS. This paper aims to explore the relationship between landscape diversity and the type of surface with the time spent and the physical activity intensity performed by seniors. To do so, this study uses GPS tracking data in combination with accelerometer data gathered from 63 seniors residing in Barcelona, Spain. Results showed that senior participants spent little time inside the analyzed UGS and sedentary behaviors (SBs) were more common than physical activities (PAs). The presence of pavement surfaces positively influenced the total time spent in UGS while gravel surfaces were negatively associated with time spent in active behaviors. The provision of well-defined and maintained paved areas and paths are some key infrastructures to be considered when designing UGS for overall urban residents and, especially, when aiming to potentiate the access for senior visitors.

Suggested Citation

  • Carme Miralles-Guasch & Javier Dopico & Xavier Delclòs-Alió & Pablo Knobel & Oriol Marquet & Roser Maneja-Zaragoza & Jasper Schipperijn & Guillem Vich, 2019. "Natural Landscape, Infrastructure, and Health: The Physical Activity Implications of Urban Green Space Composition among the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:20:p:3986-:d:278073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Tianrong Xu & Nikmatul Adha Nordin & Ainoriza Mohd Aini, 2022. "Urban Green Space and Subjective Well-Being of Older People: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-29, October.
    5. Juan Miguel Vega Naranjo & Montaña Jiménez-Espada & Francisco Manuel Martínez García & Rafael González-Escobar & Juan Pedro Cortés-Pérez, 2023. "Intercity Mobility Assessment Facing the Demographic Challenge: A Survey-Based Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Yawen Jin & Rongxiao He & Jingke Hong & Dan Luo & Guoling Xiong, 2023. "Assessing the Accessibility and Equity of Urban Green Spaces from Supply and Demand Perspectives: A Case Study of a Mountainous City in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, September.
    7. Dan Li & Haiyun Xu & Yue Kang & Koen Steemers, 2023. "Systematic Review: Landscape Characteristics Correlated with Physical Activity of the Elderly People," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    8. Mónica Machón & Kalliopi Vrotsou & Isabel Larrañaga & Itziar Vergara, 2020. "Proximity to Facilities and Its Association with the Health-Related Habits of Functionally Independent Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-7, November.
    9. Xavier Delclòs-Alió & Oriol Marquet & Guillem Vich & Jasper Schipperijn & Kai Zhang & Monika Maciejewska & Carme Miralles-Guasch, 2019. "Temperature and Rain Moderate the Effect of Neighborhood Walkability on Walking Time for Seniors in Barcelona," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Qing Li & Kaili Peng & Peng Cheng, 2021. "Community-Level Urban Green Space Equity Evaluation Based on Spatial Design Network Analysis (sDNA): A Case Study of Central Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-18, September.

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