Do psychosocial factors moderate the association between objective neighborhood walkability and older adults' physical activity?

Veerle Van Holle; Jelle Van Cauwenberg; Benedicte Deforche; Nico Van de Weghe; Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij; Delfien Van Dyck

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.05.004

Do psychosocial factors moderate the association between objective neighborhood walkability and older adults' physical activity?

Health Place. 2015 Jul:34:118-25. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.05.004. Epub 2015 May 26.

Authors

Veerle Van Holle¹, Jelle Van Cauwenberg², Benedicte Deforche³, Nico Van de Weghe⁴, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij⁵, Delfien Van Dyck⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: veerle.vanholle@ugent.be.
² Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: jelle.van.cauwenberg@vub.ac.be.
³ Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: benedicte.deforche@ugent.be.
⁴ Department of Geography, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 (S8), B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: nico.vandeweghe@ugent.be.
⁵ Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: ilse.debourdeaudhuij@ugent.be.
⁶ Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: delfien.vandyck@ugent.be.

PMID: 26022772
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.05.004

Abstract

This study investigated moderating effects of psychosocial factors on the association between walkability and physical activity (PA) in 433 Belgian older adults. Furthermore, main effects of psychosocial factors on PA were determined. No moderating effects were observed for the associations between walkability and transport walking, or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Walkability was positively associated with recreational walking in those with high self-efficacy. Regarding main effects, benefits and social norm were positively associated with recreational walking. Benefits were positively and barriers were negatively associated with MVPA. There were no significant main effects for transport walking. The overall lack of moderation suggests that environmental interventions might enhance all older adults' transport walking and MVPA. Recreational walking might be enhanced by simultaneously targeting self-efficacy and neighborhood environmental factors.

Keywords: Elderly; Interactions; Socio-ecological framework; Walking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accelerometry / methods
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Belgium
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environment Design
Exercise / psychology*
Female
Humans
Independent Living
Male
Recreation
Residence Characteristics*
Self Efficacy
Social Support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transportation
Walking / psychology*