Perceived environmental factors associated with leisure and transport-related walking behavior among Taiwanese elders

• Main Authors: Hsiang, Chih-Yu, 向芷妤
• Other Authors: Liao, Yung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/4fg55k

碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 健康促進與衛生教育學系 === 105 === Aims: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for the health of the elderly. Walking behavior has been considered as a recommended type for elderly to engage in physical activity. According to ecological model, the perceptions of environment are important factors affecting whether an individual is engaged in walking behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand the relationship of the perceived environmental factors with leisure and transport-related walking behavior among Taiwanese elderly. Methods: A telephone-based cross-sectional survey of Taiwanese elderly was conducted in November 2016. Data related to personal factors, perceived environmental factors, and time spent in transportation-related and leisure walking were obtained from 1,028 elders. The data were analyzed by performing adjusted binary logistic regression. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, the access to shops (AS), presence of sidewalks (PS), access to recreational facilities (AR), seeing people being active (SA), aesthetics (AE) and the presence of a destination (PD) were positively associated with 150 minutes of walking for leisure (AS: odds ratio [OR] = 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-2.05; PS: OR = 1.47; 95%CI: 1.13-1.90; AR: OR = 1.56; 95%CI: 1.15-2.11; SA: OR = 1.34; 95%CI: 1.01-1.79; AE: OR = 1.31; 95%CI: 1.01-1.69; PD: OR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.06-2.02). Two perceived environmental factors, namely the presence of sidewalks (PS) and the PD were found to be positively associated with 150 minutes of walking for transportation (PS: OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.28-2.63; PD: OR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.33-3.30). Different personal and perceived environmental factors were also associated with walking for leisure and transportation, respectively. Conclusions: These findings suggest that policy makers and physical activity intervention designers should develop both common and different environmental strategies in order to improve and increase awareness of the neighborhood environment to promote leisure and transportation walking behaviors among older adults.