title: Similarities and Differences in the Determinants of Trips Outdoors Performed by UK Urban- and Rural-Living Older Adults.
abstract: The frequency of trips outdoors is a strong indicator of older adults' physical activity levels. This qualitative study compared and contrasted determinants of trips outdoors between rural- (n = 13) and urban-living (n = 15) people aged 65 and older living in England. Interview transcripts were analyzed through directed and summative content analysis employing the Ecological Model framework. Some personal-level determinants (age-related barriers) and environment-level factors (car dependence, bus services) were shared across samples. The main differences were seen in how a community-based social network instigated trips outdoors for rural participants while family ties mostly led to trips outdoors for urban-living participants. Urban participants used and valued recreational facilities, but rural participants did not report them as important in determining trips outdoors. Strategies to improve public transport and minimize age-related barriers may translate from urban to rural contexts. However, social and/or physical environment interventions could be more effective if they were rural-grounded, not urban-translated.
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jolanthe L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: de Koning
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stathi
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Fox
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D014195:Travel; D014505:Urban Population