A1 Journal article (refereed)
Older Adults' Physical Activity and the Relevance of Distances to Neighborhood Destinations and Barriers to Outdoor Mobility (2020)
Portegijs, E., Keskinen, K. E., Eronen, J., Saajanaho, M., Rantakokko, M., & Rantanen, T. (2020). Older Adults' Physical Activity and the Relevance of Distances to Neighborhood Destinations and Barriers to Outdoor Mobility. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 335. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00335
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Portegijs, Erja; Keskinen, Kirsi E.; Eronen, Johanna; Saajanaho, Milla; Rantakokko, Merja; Rantanen, Taina
Journal or series: Frontiers in Public Health
eISSN: 2296-2565
Publication year: 2020
Publication date: 07/08/2020
Volume: 8
Article number: 335
Publisher: Frontiers Media
Publication country: Switzerland
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00335
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71407
Abstract
Methods: Cross-sectional analyses comprising men and women 79–94 years old (57%) living independently in Central Finland (n = 185). Self-reported physical activity was categorized into lower (≤3 h moderate activity a week) and higher (≥4 h moderate or intense activity a week) activity. Assisted by interviewers, participants located on an interactive map destinations perceived to facilitate and barriers perceived to hinder outdoor mobility in their neighborhood. Participants' home addresses were geolocated. Euclidean distances between home and reported locations were computed, and the maximal distance from home to neighborhood destinations and barriers, respectively, was categorized based using four common buffer distances, i.e., 250 m, 500 m, 750 m, and 1 km. Participants reporting destinations or barriers within and beyond the respective distance were compared with those reporting none.
Results: About 80% of participants reported neighborhood destinations and 55% neighborhood barriers to outdoor mobility. Barriers were generally located closer to home than destinations [median 166 m (range 25 m−6.10 km) vs. 492 m (5 m−2.7 km)]. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and physical performance showed that neighborhood destinations increased the odds for higher physical activity when located beyond 500 m from home [OR 2.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–8.54], but not when located solely within 500 m (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.30–9.61), in comparison with when reporting no destinations. In contrast, neighborhood barriers decreased the odds for higher physical activity when solely located within 500 m (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14–0.72), but not when any barrier was located beyond 500 m (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.23–3.99), compared with when reporting no barriers. Associations were similar for 250-m buffer distances, but not robust for 750-m and 1,000-m buffers because of lower prevalence.
Conclusion: Neighborhood barriers to outdoor mobility located close to home were associated with lower physical activity of older adults, whereas barriers further away were not. Attractive destinations for outdoor mobility located further away from home correlated with higher physical activity, potentially by motivating one to go out and be physically active. Temporal relationships warrant further study.
Keywords: physical disabilities; physical training; constructed environment; ageing; walking (motion)
Free keywords: mobility limitation; physical exercise; built environment; aging; walking; active aging; age-friendly community
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Active ageing - resilience and external support as modifiers of the disablement outcome
- Rantanen, Taina
- European Commission
- Places of Active Aging
- Keskinen, Kirsi
- Ministry of Education and Culture
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2020
JUFO rating: 1
