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Using Walk-Along Interviews to Identify Environmental Factors Influencing Older Adults’ Out-of-Home Behaviors in a High-Rise, High-Density Neighborhood

Author

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  • Yuxin Cao

    (Center for Ageing Research in the Environment, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566, Singapore)

  • Chye Kiang Heng

    (Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566, Singapore)

  • John Chye Fung

    (Center for Ageing Research in the Environment, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117566, Singapore)

Abstract

Older adults’ out-of-home behaviors (OOHBs) are critical for maintaining health and quality of life. Taking Singapore’s Yuhua East as a case, this study applied a qualitative approach to explore what neighborhood environmental factors influence older adults’ OOHBs. Twelve older adults were recruited for walk-along interviews through the use of purposeful convenience sampling. A content analysis was conducted using NVivo 11 via an inductive approach. Research results revealed 12 categories of environmental factors that affected older adults’ OOHBs: access to facilities (shops and services, public transit, and connectivity), pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalk quality, sheltered walkways, universal design, crossings, benches, and public toilets), aesthetics (natural elements, buildings, noise, and cleanliness), traffic safety (behavior of other road users and road width), safety from crime, wayfinding, familiarity (long-term residency and routine activities), weather, social contact, high-rise, high-density (lifts, population density, flat size, and privacy), affordability (shops and services, as well as transportation), and maintenance and upgrading. This analysis concluded that access to facilities and pedestrian infrastructure are important for older adults’ OOHBs. Considering Singapore’s weather, sheltered walkways, the proximity of facilities and connectivity should be given serious emphasis. In addition to physical factors, social contacts and the affordability of shops and services are also important.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuxin Cao & Chye Kiang Heng & John Chye Fung, 2019. "Using Walk-Along Interviews to Identify Environmental Factors Influencing Older Adults’ Out-of-Home Behaviors in a High-Rise, High-Density Neighborhood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:21:p:4251-:d:282607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wennberg, Hanna & Hydén, Christer & Ståhl, Agneta, 2010. "Barrier-free outdoor environments: Older peoples' perceptions before and after implementation of legislative directives," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 464-474, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ka-Man Leung & Kai-Ling Ou & Pak-Kwong Chung & Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani, 2021. "Older Adults’ Perceptions toward Walking: A Qualitative Study Using a Social-Ecological Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Eman Leung & Albert Lee & Yilin Liu & Chi-Tim Hung & Ning Fan & Sam C. C. Ching & Hilary Yee & Yinan He & Richard Xu & Hector Wing Hong Tsang & Jingjing Guan, 2024. "Impact of Environment on Pain among the Working Poor: Making Use of Random Forest-Based Stratification Tool to Study the Socioecology of Pain Interference," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-21, February.
    3. Valkiria Amaya & Matthias Chardon & Helen Klein & Thibauld Moulaert & Nicolas Vuillerme, 2023. "Correction: Amaya et al. What Do We Know about the Use of the Walk-Along Method to Identify the Perceived Neighborhood Environment Correlates of Walking Activity in Healthy Older Adults: Methodologica," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.
    4. Zdravko Trivic, 2021. "A Study of Older Adults’ Perception of High-Density Housing Neighbourhoods in Singapore: Multi-Sensory Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-31, June.
    5. Jingrui Sun & Zhenjun Zhu & Ji Han & Zhanpeng He & Xinfang Xu, 2023. "Influence of the Built Environment on Older Adults’ Travel Time: Evidence from the Nanjing Metropolitan Area, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, June.

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