title: The relationship between the built environment and habitual levels of physical activity in South African older adults: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has shown that the built environment plays a role in habitual levels of physical activity (PA), however much of this research has been conducted in adults and higher income countries. The aim of this pilot study was to examine the strength of association between the built environment and PA in South African older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were recruited (n = 44, mean age 65 ± 8.5 years) from two suburbs, representing either a high socioeconomic (HSA) or low socioeconomic area (LSA). Self-reported PA, and subjective assessments of neighborhood walkability (Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, NEWS) was measured. Participants wore Actigraph GT3x accelerometers to objectively quantify PA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HSA participants reported significantly more leisure-time and less transport PA. Objectively measured and self-reported MVPA was significantly higher in HSA participants. NEWS 'Land-use Mix' was negatively associated with leisure-time MVPA, (r(2) = 0.20; p < 0.02). In addition, neighborhood aesthetics was positively associated with leisure-time physical activity (r(2) = 0.33; p = 0.02). 'Safety from traffic' was inversely associated with travel-related PA (r(2) = 0.14, p = 0.01). None of the other NEWS scores were associated with PA for the total group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leisure-time and transport-related PA was influenced by socio-economic status. Attributes of the perceived built environment associated with leisure-time and total MVPA in older South Africa adults were different in low- and high- income settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. t.kolbealexander@uq.edu.au.|Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Blair Drive St Lucia, 4072, Brisbane, Australia. t.kolbealexander@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kolbe-Alexander
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. kylapacheco1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kyla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. tmzsim@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Simone A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tomaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. david.karpul@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karpul
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Vicki.lambert@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: Estelle V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Lambert
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking