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Using Walk Score™ and Neighborhood Perceptions to Assess Walking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

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Abstract

We aimed to determine the relationship between neighborhood characteristics (walkability, cohesion/safety) and recommended activity levels among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Subjective and objective data on 394 individuals aged ≥50 years were used to assess the likelihood of walking ≥150 min/week. Environmental factors associated with a greater likelihood of any walking ≥150 min/week included living in a neighborhood with high perception of cohesion/safety versus low, living in walkable areas versus car-dependent, and living in an area with a low-moderate median income versus the lowest. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely to walk ≥150 min/week in a walkable, perceived safe/cohesive neighborhood. Identifying neighborhood factors associated with promoting walking among this population can enable stakeholders (e.g., researchers, planners, and policy makers) to direct interventions focusing on the built environment.

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Acknowledgments

Baylor Scott & White Health (120803).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-1266, USA

    Samuel D. Towne Jr., Marcia G. Ory & Samuel N. Forjuoh

  2. Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Center for Health Systems and Design, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Jaewoong Won, Sungmin Lee & Chanam Lee

  3. Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76508, USA

    Samuel N. Forjuoh

  4. Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Samuel N. Forjuoh

  5. Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Suojin Wang

  6. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Suojin Wang

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  1. Samuel D. Towne Jr.
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Correspondence to Samuel D. Towne Jr..

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Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was granted from Baylor Scott & White Health. Federalwide Assurance #FWA00003358; IRB Registration #IRB00000706.

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Towne, S.D., Won, J., Lee, S. et al. Using Walk Score™ and Neighborhood Perceptions to Assess Walking Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults. J Community Health 41, 977–988 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0180-z

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