Neighborhood Influences on Physical Activity and Physical Function Among Older Adults

Download or read book Neighborhood Influences on Physical Activity and Physical Function Among Older Adults written by Katherine M. Mead and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The proportion of older adults in the US is growing quickly. The percentage of older adults living in rural areas is greater than the percentage living in urban areas. Rural residents experience a number of health disparities, including lower levels of physical activity. The purpose of this dissertation study was to examine the difference in amount and predictors of physical activity among rural- and urban-dwelling older adults in Wisconsin and to assess the effects of the neighborhood built environment (BE) on physical activity and physical function among rural- and urban-dwelling older adults in Wisconsin. This cross-sectional correlation study utilized data collected via the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW). SHOW is a statewide, representative survey that collects information on residents' health and social determinants of health. T-tests and linear regression were used to determine differences in amount and predictors of physical activity. Moderated mediation path models were used to determine the effects of the BE on physical activity and physical function based on rural or urban location. In the regression models that controlled for potential confounders, rural residents had less time in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity. Age, high income, education, and Hispanic ethnicity were significant predictors of physical activity. In the moderated mediation path models, perceived access to fruits and vegetables was a significant indirect effect on physical function, mediated by physical activity, for urban older adults. Perceived safety from traffic and perceived neighborhood destinations had a significant positive direct effect on physical function for urban residents. Perceiving many interesting things to see in the neighborhood had a significant direct effect on physical function for rural residents. The physical activity estimates in this study matched the general trends of physical activity estimates for older adults and rural adults in other studies. The significant BE effects were also similar to other studies that explored associations between the BE and physical activity or physical function. This information will be important to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to effectively promote physical activity and plan for an increasingly aging population in rural areas.