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Associations between Perceived Neighborhood Walkability and Walking Time, Wellbeing, and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling Older Chinese People in Hong Kong

Author

Listed:
  • Ruby Yu

    (Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Osbert Cheung

    (Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Kevin Lau

    (CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    Institute of Future Cities, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Jean Woo

    (Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

Abstract

This study examined the cross-sectional associations between perceived neighborhood walkability and walking time, physical activity, wellbeing, and loneliness, and examined which components of walkability were most strongly associated with better wellbeing and less loneliness in older adults. Participants were community-dwelling Chinese adults aged 60+ ( n = 181). Walkability was measured using nine items selected from the Chinese version of the abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scales (NEWS) and NEWS for Chinese Seniors. Outcomes were walking time, physical activity, wellbeing (life satisfaction, happiness, sense of purpose and meaning in life), and loneliness. The mean age of the participants was 71.7 ± 7.8 years. Walkability was positively associated with walking time ( p = 0.001, p for trend <0.001) but not with physical activity. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, health conditions, lifestyle, and negative life events, those who perceived their neighborhoods as walkable had higher scores for life satisfaction ( p = 0.002) and happiness ( p = 0.002), and lower scores for loneliness ( p = 0.019), compared with those who perceived their neighborhoods as less walkable. However, perceived neighborhood walkability was not associated with sense of purpose and meaning in life. Among components of walkability, land use mix-access, infrastructure and safety for walking, and traffic safety showed the strongest associations with the measures of wellbeing. The results of this study support the importance of neighborhood walkability for health behavior and wellbeing of older adults. The wellbeing of older adults may be enhanced through the improvement of land use mix-access, infrastructure for walking, and traffic safety.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruby Yu & Osbert Cheung & Kevin Lau & Jean Woo, 2017. "Associations between Perceived Neighborhood Walkability and Walking Time, Wellbeing, and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling Older Chinese People in Hong Kong," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1199-:d:114353
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin A. Shaw & Neal Krause & Jersey Liang & Joan Bennett, 2007. "Tracking Changes in Social Relations Throughout Late Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 62(2), pages 90-99.
    2. Leyden, K.M., 2003. "Social Capital and the Built Environment: The Importance of Walkable Neighborhoods," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1546-1551.
    3. Gary W. Evans & Elyse Kantrowitz & Paul Eshelman, 2002. "Housing Quality and Psychological Well-Being Among the Elderly Population," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 57(4), pages 381-383.
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    2. Mirna Zordan & Jin Yeu Tsou & Hao Huang, 2023. "Street Vibrancy and Outdoor Activities under COVID-19 Psychological Distress: Lessons from Hong Kong," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, October.
    3. Bojing Liao & Xiang Li, 2023. "Neighborhood Environment and Affective Walking Experience: Cluster Analysis Results of a Virtual-Environment-Based Conjoint Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Jean Woo, 2017. "How Can We Achieve Healthy Aging?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-2, December.
    5. Sunwoo Lee, 2021. "Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Association between Neighborhood Environment and Perceived Control in Older Adults: Findings from HRS," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-8, October.
    6. Shuangzhou Chen & Zhikang Bao & Junjie Chen & Linchuan Yang & Vivian Lou, 2022. "Sustainable built environment for facilitating public health of older adults: Evidence from Hong Kong," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1086-1098, October.
    7. Eun Jung Kim & Suin Jin, 2023. "Walk Score and Neighborhood Walkability: A Case Study of Daegu, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Liang En Wee & Yun Ying Tammy Tsang & Sook Muay Tay & Andre Cheah & Mark Puhaindran & Jaime Yee & Shannon Lee & Kellynn Oen & Choon Huat Gerald Koh, 2019. "Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Its Association with Health Screening and Exercise Participation amongst Low-Income Public Rental Flat Residents in Singapore," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-16, April.
    9. Liang En Wee & Tammy Yun Ying Tsang & Huso Yi & Sue Anne Toh & Geok Ling Lee & Jaime Yee & Shannon Lee & Kellynn Oen & Gerald Choon Huat Koh, 2019. "Loneliness amongst Low-Socioeconomic Status Elderly Singaporeans and its Association with Perceptions of the Neighbourhood Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-9, March.
    10. Karacaoğlu Sıla, 2024. "Searching for Life Satisfaction in Nature through Tourism: An Exploratory Research on Hikers," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 140-152.
    11. Amit Birenboim & Pazit Ben-Nun Bloom & Hila Levit & Itzhak Omer, 2021. "The Study of Walking, Walkability and Wellbeing in Immersive Virtual Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-18, January.

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