How are objective and perceived walkability associated with the health of older adults through walking behavior?

Motivating older adults to participate in walking activities to maintain health holds great potential for significant social benefits. However, few studies have focused on older people to untangle the interrelationships between walkability, walking behavior, and health. This research explores how objective and perceived walkability is linked to older adults’ walking behavior, and consequently with their physical and mental health. We utilize street view images and deep learning approaches to measure objective walkability for older adults. Combining this with 459 survey responses collected in Shenzhen, China, we employ structural equation modeling to estimate the effects of objective and perceived walkability on the physical and mental health of older individuals, mediated by their walking behavior. The results show that perceived walkability mediates the relationship between objective walkability and older adults’ walking duration. Age has a negative association with older people’s walking behavior and physical health. Perceived walkability has a positive association with older adults’ physical and mental health, mediated by walking behavior. This evidence provides theoretical support for developing walkable environments for older adults to achieve a healthier future. Based on the findings, we also suggest contextualized planning strategies and policy implications to stimulate more seniors to walk, thereby advancing healthy aging.