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Perception of parks and trails as mobility facilitators and transportation walking in older adults: a study using digital geographical maps

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Abstract

Background

Transportation walking represents a promising target for physical activity promotion in older adults. Perceived characteristics of the neighbourhood physical environment may affect older adults’ choice of transportation mode for a routine activity such as walking to the grocery store.

Aims

To (1) evaluate associations between older adults’ perception of parks and trails as outdoor mobility facilitators and transportation walking, specifically to the grocery store; and (2) explore whether the spatial relationship between people’s home, perceived facilitator and store was relevant for their transportation choice.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were collected in a subsample of the ‘Life-space mobility in old age’ cohort. Multivariable logistic regression analysis on the binary outcome ‘transportation walking’ (vs. ‘motorized transportation’) was used to evaluate the association with perceived mobility facilitators in the neighborhood; in step (1) without and in step (2) with taking spatial relationships into account.

Results

Perceiving a park as facilitator increased the odds of walking (N = 179; Odds Ratio 9.89; 95% Confidence interval 3.11–31.50). Spatial relationships did not affect transportation choice. Reporting a trail as facilitator was not significantly associated with walking.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the perception of environmental characteristics in the neighbourhood has an influence on older people’s transportation choices. Taking environmental measures or informing older adults on their options in the neighbourhood might be possible ways to increase older adults’ transportation walking on a population level.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Academy of Finland, the Future of Living and Housing (ASU-LIVE; Grant number 255403 to TR) program and the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture (to TR and EP).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Birsstrasse 320 B, 4052, Basel, Switzerland

    Timo Hinrichs & Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss

  2. Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Kirsi E. Keskinen, Béla Pavelka, Johanna Eronen, Taina Rantanen & Erja Portegijs

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  1. Timo Hinrichs
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  2. Kirsi E. Keskinen
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Correspondence to Timo Hinrichs.

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Hinrichs, T., Keskinen, K.E., Pavelka, B. et al. Perception of parks and trails as mobility facilitators and transportation walking in older adults: a study using digital geographical maps. Aging Clin Exp Res 31, 673–683 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-018-01115-0

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