title: Environmental Factors Associated With Social Participation of Older Adults Living in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Areas: The NuAge Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the social participation of older adults living in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, and identified associated environmental factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2004 to 2006, we conducted a cross-sectional study using an age-, gender-, and area-stratified random sample of 1198 adults (aged 67-82 years). We collected data via interviewer-administered questionnaires and derived from Canadian censuses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Social participation did not differ across living areas (P = .09), but after controlling for potential confounding variables, we identified associated area-specific environmental variables. In metropolitan areas, higher social participation was associated with greater proximity to neighborhood resources, having a driver's license, transit use, and better quality social network (R(2) = 0.18). In urban areas, higher social participation was associated with greater proximity to neighborhood resources and having a driver's license (R(2) = 0.11). Finally, in rural areas, higher social participation was associated with greater accessibility to key resources, having a driver's license, children living in the neighborhood, and more years lived in the current dwelling (R(2) = 0.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To enhance social participation of older adults, public health interventions need to address different environmental factors according to living areas.
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Mélanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Alan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Mélissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Généreux
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: France-Hélène
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Therrien
authors.affiliation: Mélanie Levasseur, Alan A. Cohen, Marie-France Dubois, Mélissa Généreux, and Hélène Payette are with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec. Lucie Richard is with the Institut de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. France-Hélène Therrien is with the University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Québec.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Payette
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*