Walking-friendly built environments and objectively measured physical function in older adults

Background:Few studies have examined the associations between urban design attributes and older adults’physical function.Especially,it is not well known how built-environment attributes may influence physical function in Asian cities.The aim of this study was to examine associations between objectively measured environmental attributes of walkability and objectively assessed physical function in a sample of Japanese older adults.Methods:Cross-sectional data collected in 2013 from 314 older residents(aged 65-84 years)living in Japan were used.Physical function was estimated from objectively measured upper-and lower-body function,mobility,and balance by a trained research team member.A comprehensive list of built-environment attributes,including population density,availability of destinations,intersection density,and distance to the nearest public transport station,were objectively calculated.Walk Score as a composite measure of neighborhood walkability was also obtained.Results:Among men,higher population density,availability of destinations,and intersection density were significantly associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).Higher Walk Score was also marginally associated with better physical function performance(1-legged stance with eyes open).None of the environmental attributes were associated with physical function in elderly women.Conclusion:Our findings indicate that environmental attributes of walkability are associated with the physical function of elderly men in the context of Asia.Walking-friendly neighborhoods can not only promote older adults’active behaviors but can also support their physical function.

Differences in transportation and leisure physical activity by neighborhood design controlling for residential choice

Background:Cross-sectional studies provide useful insight about the associations between the built environment and physical activity(PA),particularly when reasons for neighborhood choice are considered.Our study analyzed the relationship between levels of weekly transportation and leisure PA among 3 neighborhood designs,statistically adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and reasons for neighborhood choice.Methods:A stratified random sample of adults(age>20 years)living in Calgary(Canada)neighborhoods with different neighborhood designs(grid,warped-grid,and curvilinear)and socioeconomic status completed a self-administered questionnaire capturing PA,sociodemographic characteristics,and reasons for neighborhood choice(response rate=10.1%;n=1023).Generalized linear models estimated associations between neighborhood design and transportation and leisure PA outcomes(participation(any vs.none)and volume(metabolic equivalent:h/week)),adjusting for neighborhood socioeconomic status,sociodemographic characteristics(gender,age,ethnicity,education,household income,marital status,children,vehicle access,dog ownership,and injury),and reasons for neighborhood choice(e.g.,proximity and quality of recreational and utilitarian destinations,proximity to work,highway access,aesthetics,and sense of community).Results:Overall,854 participants had resided in their neighborhood for at least 12 months and provided complete data.Compared with those living in curvilinear neighborhoods,grid neighborhood participants had greater odds(p<0.05)of participating in any transportation walking(odds ratio(OR)=2.17),transportation and leisure cycling(OR=2.39 and OR=1.70),active transportation(OR=2.16),and high-intensity leisure PA(≥6 metabolic equivalent;OR=1.74),respectively.There were no neighborhood differences in the volume of any transportation or leisure PA undertaken.Adjustment for neighborhood selection had minimal impact on the statistical or practical importance of model estimates.Conclusion:Neighborhood design is associated with PA patterns in adults,independent of reasons for neighborhood choice and sociodemogranhic factors.

Direct and indirect effects of multilevel factors on school-based physical activity among Japanese adolescent boys

Purpose: Background: Physical activity is a complex behavior which involves the interaction of multilevel factors at the individual, social and environmental level. However, previous studies have largely focused on psychological and/or social environmental factors and the direct impact of such factors on physical activity. There are few studies having examined how multilevel factors may interact to influence activity level. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine both direct and indirect effects of multilevel factors on school-based physical activity in Japanese adolescent boys. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of the Japanese adolescent lifestyles, 379 junior high school boys were invited to complete self-report measures of age, grade, weight, height, self-efficacy, social support (family, friends and teachers), school physical environment (equipment, facilities and safety) and average minutes per week of physical activity during lunch time and after-school hours occurring at school. Structural equation modeling analyses controlling for age were utilized to examine the effects of body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, social support and school physical environmental variables on lunchtime and after-school physical activity. Results: During lunch time, self-efficacy exhibited direct positive effects on physical activity. BMI, facilities, and safety were indirectly associated with lunchtime physical activity through self-efficacy. However, there were no significant relationships of equipment and social support with lunchtime physical activity. During after-school hours, family support and facilities directly affected physical activity. Self-efficacy was indirectly related with physical activity through family support. BMI, equipment, and safety indirectly affected physical activity through self-efficacy and/or family support. Conclusion: Effects of multilevel factor on physical activity among adolescent boys differed according to context, which implies that interventions to promote physical activity should be context-specific. Findings encourage the development of future effective interventions to promote physical activity through self-efficacy during lunch time as well as family support during after-school hours.

Mediation effects of social support on relationships of perceived environment and self-efficacy with school-based physical activity: A structural equation model tailored for Japanese adolescent girls

Background: Identifying correlates of physical activity that can be targeted as potential mediators is important for developing interventions to promote physical activity in adolescent girls. However, the mediated effects of multilevel correlates of physical activity remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine direct and mediated effects of personal, social and perceived school physical environmental factors on school-based physical activity of Japanese adolescent girls. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey of the Japanese adolescent lifestyles, 344 junior high school girls were invited to complete self-report measures of age, grade, weight, height, self-efficacy, social support (family, friends and teachers), perceived school physical environment (equipment, facilities and safety) and physical activity at school (min per week during lunch time and after- school hours). Structural equation modeling analysis controlling for age was performed to examine the effects of body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, social support and school physical environmental variables on lunchtime and after-hours physical activity. Results: The final structural model demonstrated an acceptable fit for each context-specific physical activity. During lunch recess, perceived equipment and friend support exhibited direct effects on physical activity;perceived facilities, safety, and self-efficacy were indirectly associated with physical activity through friend support. During after-school hours, both family and friend support directly affected physical activity at school;perceived safety, facilities and self-efficacy exhibited indirect effects on physical activity through family or friend support. However, there were no significant associations between equipment and after-school-hours physical activity. Regardless of contexts, BMI had neither direct nor indirect effects on physical activity. Conclusion: Social support from family and friends was identified as factors mediating the effects of perceived environment and self-efficacy on school-based physical activity among Japanese adolescent girls. This finding encourages the future development of effective interventions to promote physical activity through family and friend support in the future.