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Understanding the Influence of Environment on Adults’ Walking Experiences: A Meta-Synthesis Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Dadpour

    (Department of Urban Planning & Design, Shahid Beheshti University, Daneshjoo Blvd, Evin, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran)

  • Jahanshah Pakzad

    (Department of Urban Planning & Design, Shahid Beheshti University, Daneshjoo Blvd, Evin, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran)

  • Hamidreza Khankeh

    (Research Center in Emergency and Disaster Health, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences (USWR), Koudakyar St., Daneshjoo Blvd, Evin, Tehran 19857-13834, Iran
    Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Södersjukhuset (KI SÖS) Sjukhusbacken 10, Stockholm 118 83, Sweden)

Abstract

The environment has an important impact on physical activity, especially walking. The relationship between the environment and walking is not the same as for other types of physical activity. This study seeks to comprehensively identify the environmental factors influencing walking and to show how those environmental factors impact on walking using the experiences of adults between the ages of 18 and 65. The current study is a meta-synthesis based on a systematic review. Seven databases of related disciplines were searched, including health, transportation, physical activity, architecture, and interdisciplinary databases. In addition to the databases, two journals were searched. Of the 11,777 papers identified, 10 met the eligibility criteria and quality for selection. Qualitative content analysis was used for analysis of the results. The four themes identified as influencing walking were “safety and security”, “environmental aesthetics”, “social relations”, and “convenience and efficiency”. “Convenience and efficiency” and “environmental aesthetics” could enhance the impact of “social relations” on walking in some aspects. In addition, “environmental aesthetics” and “social relations” could hinder the influence of “convenience and efficiency” on walking in some aspects. Given the results of the study, strategies are proposed to enhance the walking experience.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Dadpour & Jahanshah Pakzad & Hamidreza Khankeh, 2016. "Understanding the Influence of Environment on Adults’ Walking Experiences: A Meta-Synthesis Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:7:p:731-:d:74356
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Darker, Catherine D. & Larkin, Michael & French, David P., 2007. "An exploration of walking behaviour--An interpretative phenomenological approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(10), pages 2172-2183, November.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    3. Alessandro Liberati & Douglas G Altman & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Cynthia Mulrow & Peter C Gøtzsche & John P A Ioannidis & Mike Clarke & P J Devereaux & Jos Kleijnen & David Moher, 2009. "The PRISMA Statement for Reporting Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Studies That Evaluate Health Care Interventions: Explanation and Elaboration," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-28, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hong Wu & Cong Gong & Rui Wang & Xiaoyue Niu & Yu Cao & Changhao Cao & Changjuan Hu, 2025. "Moderating Effects of Park Accessibility and External Environment on Park Satisfaction in a Mountainous City," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, January.
    3. Zhengzheng Luo & Lia Marchi & Jacopo Gaspari, 2025. "A Systematic Review of Factors Affecting User Behavior in Public Open Spaces Under a Changing Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-29, March.
    4. Peng Yang & Shanshan Dai & Honggang Xu & Peng Ju, 2018. "Perceived Environmental, Individual and Social Factors of Long-Distance Collective Walking in Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, November.

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