title: Neighborhood resources and social participation among older adults: results from the VoisiNuage study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examined the associations between proximity to selected locations considered to be conducive to social participation, and social participation itself, in urban-dwelling seniors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 520 older adults residing in the Montreal area provided reports of social participation and information about health, sociodemographic characteristics, social networks, and perceptions about features of their residential environment. Information about the distance between their home and five locations deemed to be conducive to social participation were obtained from a geographic information system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses showed a significant association between proximity to selected locations and social participation while accounting for individual characteristics and perceptions of neighborhood features (β = 0.37; SE = 0.17; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings were consistent with contributions highlighting the impact of the built environment on seniors' health-related behavior. Future work would benefit from the use of longitudinal designs and examinations of social participation through alternate channels.
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada. lucie.richard@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gauvin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kestens
authors.forename: Bryna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shatenstein
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Payette
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercille
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058992:Social Participation; D014505:Urban Population