title: Measured and perceived environmental characteristics are related to accelerometer defined physical activity in older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have investigated both the self-perceived and measured environment with objectively determined physical activity in older adults. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine measured and perceived environmental associations with physical activity of older adults residing across different neighborhood types.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-hundred and forty-eight older individuals, mean age 64.3 ± 8.4, were randomly recruited from one of four neighborhoods that were pre-determined as either having high- or low walkable characteristics. Individual residences were geocoded and 200 m network buffers established. Both objective environment audit, and self-perceived environmental measures were collected, in conjunction with accelerometer derived physical activity behavior. Using both perceived and objective environment data, analysis consisted of a macro-level comparison of physical activity levels across neighborhood, and a micro-level analysis of individual environmental predictors of physical activity levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals residing in high-walkable neighborhoods on average engaged in 11 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day more than individuals residing in low-walkable neighborhoods. Both measured access to non-residential destinations (b = .11, p < .001) and self-perceived access to non-residential uses (b = 2.89, p = .031) were significant predictors of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Other environmental variables significantly predicting components of physical activity behavior included presence of measured neighborhood crime signage (b = .4785, p = .031), measured street safety (b = 26.8, p = .006), and perceived neighborhood satisfaction (b = .5.8, p = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older adult residents who live in high-walkable neighborhoods, who have easy and close access to nonresidential destinations, have lower social dysfunction pertinent to crime, and generally perceive the neighborhood to a higher overall satisfaction are likely to engage in higher levels of physical activity behavior. Efforts aimed at promoting more walkable neighborhoods could influence activity levels in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA. sstrath@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Strath
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Greenwald
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaacs
authors.forename: Teresa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Elizabeth K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Dondzila
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Swartz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology