This site needs JavaScript to work properly. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features!
Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

NIH NLM Logo
Log in
Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 Jul 6;4(3):41.
doi: 10.3390/geriatrics4030041.

Associations between Neighborhood Open Space Features and Walking and Social Interaction in Older Adults-A Mixed Methods Study

Affiliations

Associations between Neighborhood Open Space Features and Walking and Social Interaction in Older Adults-A Mixed Methods Study

Tanja Schmidt et al. Geriatrics (Basel). .

Abstract

Neighborhood Open Spaces (NOS) such as public spaces around people's homes, parks and village greens, may support activity and socializing for older adults. These spaces might be especially important for older adults as they typically are less mobile and have smaller activity spaces and social networks than other age groups. The present exploratory sequential mixed methods study investigates the association between built environment features, social interaction, and walking within NOS, among older adults living in a low socio-economic neighborhood in Copenhagen. Interviews, the Community Park Audit Tool, and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) were used to capture quantitative and qualitative data on 353 older adults (59-90 years old) within 11 NOS. Walking was predicted by the condition and shade along paths, seating and landscaping. Social interaction was negatively associated with walking, suggesting that older adults tend to sit down when engaging in social activities. Interviews highlighted the importance of social interaction within NOS. Future designs of NOS should acknowledge the importance of social meeting places, but at the same time provide walkable spaces for older adults to promote healthy aging.

Keywords: neighborhood open space; older adults; social interaction; walking.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of Copenhagen, Sydhavnen and all 11 Neighborhood open spaces within the two senior housing areas. The map (on the left) includes information on parks (green), water (blue), major roads (grey lines), and the train system (dotted lines). White arrows show the entrances to the buildings.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mixed Methods diagram explaining the design and structure of this study. Qual = qualitative, Quan = quantitative.

References

    1. Harper S. Economic and social implications of aging societies. Science. 2014;346:587–591. doi: 10.1126/science.1254405. - DOI - PubMed
    1. De Groot L.C., Verheijden M.W., De Henauw S., Schroll M., Van Staveren W.A. Lifestyle, Nutritional Status, Health, and Mortality in Elderly People Across Europe: A Review of the Longitudinal Results of the SENECA Study. J. Gerontol. Ser. A. 2004;59:1277–1284. doi: 10.1093/gerona/59.12.1277. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-related Statistics, editor. Older Americans 2016: Key Indicators of Well-Being. U.S. Government Printing Office; Washington, DC, USA: 2016.
    1. Snowden M., Steinman L., Frederick J. Treating Depression in Older Adults: Challenges to Implementing the Recommendations of an Expert Panel. Prev. Chronic Dis. 2008;5:A26. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bryant C., Jackson H., Ames D. The prevalence of anxiety in older adults: Methodological issues and a review of the literature. J. Affect. Disord. 2008;109:233–250. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.200711008. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources

Cite

AltStyle によって変換されたページ (->オリジナル) /