Influences on Neighborhood Walking in Older Adults

Regular physical activity is important for the prevention or delay of mobility-related disability (Alexander & Goldberg, 2005; Rejeski et al., 2009). The most common type of moderate physical activity chosen by older adults of all ethnic backgrounds is walking (Bassett, Fitzhugh, Crespo, King & McLaughlin, 2002; Belza et al., 2004), yet only 25% of older adults walk on a regular basis (LeMasurier et al., 2008). The onset of mobility limitations (Hughes, McDowell & Brody, 2008) and advancing age (Hughes et al., 2008; Shaw & Spokane, 2008) are associated with decreased walking. Regular walking may help to prevent or delay the progression of mobility limitations (Faber, Bosscher, Chin & van Wieringen, 2006; Luukinen et al., 2007) and does not have to be of long duration or distance in order to provide mobility benefits (Simonsick, Guralnik, Volpato, Balfour & Fried, 2005). Because neighborhood walking is convenient (King, 2001) and attractive to older adults, including those with chronic illness (Fuller, Stewart Williams & Byles, 2010), identification of factors that promote neighborhood walking is critical. Neighborhood walking in older adults may be influenced by both individual and neighborhood environment factors, and the neighborhood environment may be particularly relevant for individuals with mobility limitations (Clarke, Ailshire, Bader, Morenoff & House, 2008; Shumway-Cook et al., 2003). However, no studies were identified that examined the impact of both individual and neighborhood environment factors in older adults with and without mobility limitations. Understanding how multiple factors influence neighborhood walking is important for increasing physical activity in older adults and for preventing the progression of mobility limitations. This study examined the influence of neighborhood environment and individual factors (self-efficacy and outcome expectations) on neighborhood walking in older adults with and without mobility limitations.