title: Gender differences in neighborhood walking in older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined mobility, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, neighborhood (density, destinations, and design), and neighborhood walking in older men (n = 106, 60-99 years, M = 76.78, SD = 8.12) and women (n = 216, 60-99 years, M = 75.81, SD = 8.46).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In hierarchical regression, the variables explained 32% of the variance in neighborhood walking in men (p < .001) and 27% of the variance in women (p < .01). Self-efficacy (β = .49, p < .01), density (β= .22, p < .05), and design (β= .21, p = .05) were associated with walking in men. Significant design characteristics included sidewalks (β= .25, p < .05) and crime (β= .36, p < .01). In women, self-efficacy (β= .48, p < .001) and destinations (β= .15, p < .05) were associated with walking. Walking was associated with self-efficacy for walking despite individual barriers in women (β= .38, p < .001) and neighborhood barriers in men (β= .30, p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Walking interventions targeting older women should incorporate local destinations. In older men, interventions should consider neighborhood sidewalk design and crime. Walking interventions for all older adults should include enhancement of self-efficacy, but gender differences may exist in the types of self-efficacy on which to focus.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA nagalla@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Nancy Ambrose
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: Philippa J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberlee A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gretebeck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011156:Population Density; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: neighborhood environment; self-efficacy; walking