Associations of objectively-assessed neighborhood characteristics with older adults' total physical activity and sedentary time in an ultra-dense urban environment: Findings from the ALECS study.
Associations of objectively-assessed neighborhood environment characteristics with accelerometer-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary time, and their socio-demographic and health-status moderators were examined. Data were collected on 402 Hong Kong Chinese older adults from neighborhoods stratified by socio-economic status and transport-related walkability. Few main effects were observed. Sex moderated a third of the associations of environmental attributes with light-to-vigorous PA and sedentary time. Education and car ownership also moderated several associations with moderate-to-vigorous PA, light-to-vigorous PA, and sedentary time. Only two associations depended on age and health-related status. These findings suggest that social factors rather than physical capacity and health status may need to be considered in efforts to optimize activity-friendly environments for Chinese older urban dwellers.
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: ecerin@hku.hk.
Ester
E
Cerin
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: casperz1@hku.hk.
Casper J P
CJ
Zhang
Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: Anthony.Barnett@acu.edu.au.
Anthony
A
Barnett
Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: sithp@cuhk.edu.hk.
Cindy H P
CH
Sit
Elderly Health Service, Department of Health, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: martin_cheung@dh.gov.hk.
Martin M C
MM
Cheung
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: jjohnsto@hku.hk.
Janice M
JM
Johnston
Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: pclai@hku.hk.
Poh-Chin
PC
Lai
Elderly Health Service, Department of Health, The Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: ruby_sy_lee@dh.gov.hk.
Ruby S Y
RS
Lee
D061725:Accelerometry; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking
Geographic information systems; Neighborhood environment; Older adults; Physical activity; Ultra-dense urban areas