Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Association between social and built environments and leisure-time physical activity among Chinese older adults - a multilevel analysis

Authors: Junling Gao, Hua Fu, Jiang Li, Yingnan Jia

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Social and physical environments are not only hypothesized to influence physical activity (PA), they are also interrelated and influence each other. However, few studies have examined the relationships of PA with social and physical environments simultaneously. Accordingly, the current study aims to examine the association between physical and social attributes of neighborhood with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among the Chinese elders.

Methods

By employing a two-stage stratified random sampling procedure, 2783 elders were identified from 47 neighborhoods in Shanghai during July and September in 2014. Social and physical attributes of neighborhood were assessed using a validated and psychometrically tested measures, and the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Long Form was used to assess LTPA. Control variables included sex, age, marital status, education level, self-rated health and chronic conditions. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore whether individual- and neighborhood-level social and physical attributes were associated with LTPA.

Results

The overall prevalence of leisure-time active (LTA) was 46.6 %. After controlling for individual covariates, 1) compared to participants with the first quartile of social participation, the odds ratios of LTA for participants with the second, third and fourth quartile of social participation were 1.86 (95 % CI: 1.44–2.41), 2.37 (95 % CI: 1.82–3.08) and 4.27 (95 % CI: 3.27–5.58); 2) compared to participants with the first quartile of social cohesion, the odds ratios of LTA for participants with the second, third and fourth quartile of social cohesion were 1.09 (95 % CI: 1.07–1.20), 1.14 (95 % CI: 1.08–3.50) and 1.31 (95 % CI: 1.11–1.58); 3) compared to participants living in neighborhoods with the first quartile of walkability, the odds ratios of LTA for participants living in neighborhoods with the second, third and fourth quartile of walkability were 1.13 (95 % CI: 1.03–2.02), 1.73 (95 % CI: 1.12–3.21) and 1.85 (95 % CI: 1.19–3.35).

Conclusions

Both social and physical attribute of neighborhood associate with LTPA among Chinese older adults. It may promote LTPA among Chinese older adults to encourage them to participate in social activities, meanwhile, building walkable and cohesive neighborhoods.
Literature
1.
2.
Johnsen NF, Ekblond A, Thomsen BL, Overvad K, Tjonneland A. Leisure time physical activity and mortality. Epidemiology. 2013;24(5):717–25.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Janssen I, Carson V, Lee IM, Katzmarzyk PT, Blair SN. Years of life gained due to leisure-time physical activity in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2013;44(1):23–9.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
4.
Annear MJ, Cushman G, Gidlow B. Leisure time physical activity differences among older adults from diverse socioeconomic neighborhoods. Health Place. 2009;15(2):482–90.PubMedCrossRef
5.
Kujala UM, Makinen VP, Heinonen I, Soininen P, Kangas AJ, Leskinen TH, et al. Long-term leisure-time physical activity and serum metabolome. Circulation. 2013;127(3):340–8.PubMedCrossRef
6.
Ashe MC, Miller WC, Eng JJ, Noreau L, Physical A, Chronic Conditions Research T. Older adults, chronic disease and leisure-time physical activity. Gerontology. 2009;55(1):64–72.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
7.
Deplanque D, Masse I, Libersa C, Leys D, Bordet R. Previous leisure-time physical activity dose dependently decreases ischemic stroke severity. Stroke Res Treat. 2012;2012:614925.PubMedPubMedCentral
8.
Sanchez-Villegas A, Ara I, Dierssen T, de la Fuente C, Ruano C, Martinez-Gonzalez MA. Physical activity during leisure time and quality of life in a Spanish cohort: SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) project. Br J Sports Med. 2012;46(6):443–8.PubMedCrossRef
9.
Balboa-Castillo T, Leon-Munoz LM, Graciani A, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Guallar-Castillon P. Longitudinal association of physical activity and sedentary behavior during leisure time with health-related quality of life in community-dwelling older adults. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2011;9:47.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
10.
Nakamura PM, Teixeira IP, Smirmaul BP, Sebastiao E, Papini CB, Gobbi S, et al. Health related quality of life is differently associated with leisure-time physical activity intensities according to gender: a cross-sectional approach. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2014;12:98.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
11.
Sodergren M, McNaughton SA, Salmon J, Ball K, Crawford DA. Associations between fruit and vegetable intake, leisure-time physical activity, sitting time and self-rated health among older adults: cross-sectional data from the WELL study. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:551.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
12.
WHO. Good health adds life to years Global brief for World Health Day 2012. Genava: WHO; 2012.
13.
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division P. World urbanization prospects: the 2014 revision, highlights. New York: United Nations; 2014.
14.
Zhu YG, Ioannidis JP, Li H, Jones KC, Martin FL. Understanding and harnessing the health effects of rapid urbanization in China. Environ Sci Technol. 2011;45(12):5099–104.PubMedCrossRef
15.
Zhang M, Chen X, Wang Z, Wang L, Jiang Y. Leisure-time physical exercise and sedentary behavior among Chinese elderly, in 2010. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2014;35(3):242–5 (in Chinese).PubMed
16.
Elliott J, Gale CR, Parsons S, Kuh D, Team HAS. Neighbourhood cohesion and mental wellbeing among older adults: a mixed methods approach. Soc Sci Med. 2014;107:44–51.PubMedCrossRef
17.
Li F, Fisher KJ, Bauman A, Ory MG, Chodzko-Zajko W, Harmer P, et al. Neighborhood influences on physical activity in middle-aged and older adults: a multilevel perspective. J Aging Phys Act. 2005;13(1):87–114.PubMed
18.
Davison KK, Lawson CT. Do attributes in the physical environment influence children’s physical activity? A review of the literature. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2006;3:19.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
19.
Van Cauwenberg J, De Bourdeaudhuij I, De Meester F, Van Dyck D, Salmon J, Clarys P, et al. Relationship between the physical environment and physical activity in older adults: a systematic review. Health Place. 2011;17(2):458–69.PubMedCrossRef
20.
Carlson JA, Sallis JF, Conway TL, Saelens BE, Frank LD, Kerr J, et al. Interactions between psychosocial and built environment factors in explaining older adults’ physical activity. Prev Med. 2012;54(1):68–73.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
21.
Kerr J, Norman G, Millstein R, Adams MA, Morgan C, Langer RD, et al. Neighborhood environment and physical activity among older women: findings from the San Diego cohort of the Women’s health initiative. J Phys Act Health. 2014;11(6):1070–7.CrossRef
22.
Berke EM, Koepsell TD, Moudon AV, Hoskins RE, Larson EB. Association of the built environment with physical activity and obesity in older persons. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(3):486–92.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
23.
Van Holle V, Van Cauwenberg J, Van Dyck D, Deforche B, Van de Weghe N, De Bourdeaudhuij I. Relationship between neighborhood walkability and older adults’ physical activity: results from the Belgian Environmental Physical Activity Study in Seniors (BEPAS Seniors). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:110.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
24.
Shimura H, Sugiyama T, Winkler E, Owen N. High neighborhood walkability mitigates declines in middle-to-older aged adults’ walking for transport. J Phys Act Health. 2012;9(7):1004–8.PubMed
25.
McNeill LH, Kreuter MW, Subramanian SV. Social environment and physical activity: a review of concepts and evidence. Soc Sci Med. 2006;63(4):1011–22.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Christoforou A. On the determinants of social capital in Greece compared to countries of the European Union. Working Papers. 2005.
27.
Bolin K, Lindgren B, Lindström M, Nystedt P. Investments in social capital--implications of social interactions for the production of health. Soc Sci Med. 2003;56(12):2379–90.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Sirven N, Debrand T. Social participation and healthy ageing: an international comparison using SHARE data. Soc Sci Med. 2008;67(12):2017–26.PubMedCrossRef
29.
Lindstrom M, Hanson BS, Ostergren PO. Socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity: the role of social participation and social capital in shaping health related behaviour. Soc Sci Med. 2001;52(3):441–51.PubMedCrossRef
30.
Lindström M, Moghaddassi M, Merlo J. Social capital and leisure time physical activity: a population based multilevel analysis in Malmo, Sweden. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003;57(1):23–8.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
31.
Berkman LF, Kawachi I. Social epidemiology. New York: Oxford University Press; 2000.
32.
Keegan TH, Shariff-Marco S, Sangaramoorthy M, Koo J, Hertz A, Schupp CW, et al. Neighborhood influences on recreational physical activity and survival after breast cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2014;25(10):1295–308.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
33.
King D. Neighborhood and individual factors in activity in older adults: results from the neighborhood and senior health study. J Aging Phys Act. 2008;16(2):144–70.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Cramm JM, Dijk HM, Van Nieboer AP. The importance of neighborhood social cohesion and social capital for the well being of older adults in the community. Gerontologist. 2013;53(1):142–52.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Perez LG, Arredondo EM, McKenzie TL, Holguin M, Elder JP, Ayala GX. Neighborhood social cohesion and depressive symptoms among Latinos: does use of community resources for physical activity matter? J Phys Act Health. 2015; doi:10.​1123/​jpah.​2014-0261.
36.
Alfonzo MA. To walk or not to walk? The hierarchy of walking needs. Environ Behav. 2005;37(6):808–36.CrossRef
37.
Dannenberg AL, Howard F, Jackson RJ. Making healthy places: designing and building for health, well-being, and sustainability. Washington: Island Press; 2011.CrossRef
38.
39.
Lund H. Testing the claims of New Urbanism: local access, pedestrian travel, and neighboring behaviors. J Am Plann Assoc. 2003;69(4):414–29.CrossRef
40.
Podobnik B. New urbanism and the generation of social capital: evidence from Orenco station. Natl Civ Rev. 2002;91(3):245–55.CrossRef
41.
Rogers S, Halstead J, Gardner K, Carlson C. Examining walkability and social capital as indicators of quality of life at the municipal and neighborhood scales. Appl Res Qual Life. 2011;6(2):201–13.CrossRef
42.
Van Cauwenberg J, De Donder L, Clarys P, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Buffel T, De Witte N, et al. Relationships between the perceived neighborhood social environment and walking for transportation among older adults. Soc Sci Med. 2014;104:23–30.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Huang SJ, Hung WC, Sharpe PA, Wai JP. Neighborhood environment and physical activity among urban and rural schoolchildren in Taiwan. Health Place. 2010;16(3):470–6.PubMedCrossRef
44.
Zhou R, Li Y, Umezaki M, Ding Y, Jiang H, Comber A, et al. Association between physical activity and neighborhood environment among middle-aged adults in Shanghai. J Environ Public Health. 2013;2013:239595.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
45.
Zhang Y, Liu ND, Liu X. Relationship between built environment, physical activity, adiposity and health in adults aged 46–80 in Shanghai, China. J Phys Act Health. 2014;12(4):569–78. doi:10.​1123/​jpah.​2013-0126.
46.
Su M, Tan YY, Liu QM, Ren YJ, Kawachi I, Li LM, et al. Association between perceived urban built environment attributes and leisure-time physical activity among adults in Hangzhou, China. Prev Med. 2014;66:60–4.PubMedCrossRef
47.
Cerin E, Lee KY, Barnett A, Sit CH, Cheung MC, Chan WM. Objectively-measured neighborhood environments and leisure-time physical activity in Chinese urban elders. Prev Med. 2013;56(1):86–9.PubMedCrossRef
48.
Jia Y, Usagawa T, Fu H. The Association between walking and perceived environment in Chinese community residents: a cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2014;9(2):e90078.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
49.
Cerin E, Lee KY, Barnett A, Sit CH, Cheung MC, Chan WM, et al. Walking for transportation in Hong Kong Chinese urban elders: a cross-sectional study on what destinations matter and when. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2013;10:78.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
50.
Cerin E, Mellecker R, Macfarlane DJ, Barnett A, Cheung MC, Sit CH, et al. Socioeconomic status, neighborhood characteristics, and walking within the neighborhood among older Hong Kong Chinese. J Aging Health. 2013;25(8):1425–44.PubMedCrossRef
51.
Cerin E, Sit CH, Barnett A, Cheung MC, Chan WM. Walking for recreation and perceptions of the neighborhood environment in older Chinese urban dwellers. J Urban Health. 2013;90(1):56–66.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
52.
Cerin E, Sit CH, Barnett A, Johnston JM, Cheung MC, Chan WM. Ageing in an ultra-dense metropolis: perceived neighbourhood characteristics and utilitarian walking in Hong Kong elders. Public Health Nutr. 2014;17(1):225–32.PubMedCrossRef
53.
Diez Roux AV. A glossary for multilevel analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002;56(8):588–94.PubMedCrossRef
54.
55.
Macfarlane D, Chan A, Cerin E. Examining the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, long form (IPAQ-LC). Public Health Nutr. 2011;14(3):443–50.PubMedCrossRef
56.
Salvador EP, Florindo AA, Reis RS, Costa EF. Perception of the environment and leisure-time physical activity in the elderly. Rev Saude Publica. 2009;43(6):972–80.PubMedCrossRef
57.
Branco JC, Jansen K, Oses JP, de Mattos Souza LD, da Silva Alves Gdel G, Lara DR, et al. Practice of leisure-time physical activities and episodes of mood alteration amongst men and women. J Affect Disord. 2014;169:165–9.PubMedCrossRef
58.
Nelson ME, Rejeski WJ, Blair SN, Duncan PW, Judge JO, King AC, et al. Physical activity and public health in older adults: recommendation from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2007;116(9):1094–105.PubMedCrossRef
59.
Mujahid MS, Diez Roux AV, Morenoff JD, Raghunathan T. Assessing the measurement properties of neighborhood scales: from psychometrics to ecometrics. Am J Epidemiol. 2007;165(8):858–67.PubMedCrossRef
60.
Sampson RJ, Raudenbush SW, Earls F. Neighborhoods and violent crime: a multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science. 1997;277(5328):918–24.PubMedCrossRef
61.
Wang J, Xie H, Jiang F. Multilevel models: methods and applications. Beijing: Hiher Education Press; 2008.
62.
Legh-Jones H, Moore S. Network social capital, social participation, and physical inactivity in an urban adult population. Soc Sci Med. 2012;74(9):1362–7.PubMedCrossRef
63.
Cradock AL, Kawachi I, Colditz GA, Gortmaker SL, Buka SL. Neighborhood social cohesion and youth participation in physical activity in Chicago. Soc Sci Med. 2009;68(3):427–35.PubMedCrossRef
64.
Lindstrom M. Social capital, desire to increase physical activity and leisure-time physical activity: a population-based study. Public Health. 2011;125(7):442–7.PubMedCrossRef
65.
Van Dyck D, Teychenne M, McNaughton SA, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Salmon J. Relationship of the perceived social and physical environment with mental health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older adults: mediating effects of physical activity. PLoS One. 2015;10(3):e0120475.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
66.
Oyserman D, Coon HM, Kemmelmeier M. Rethinking individualism and collectivism: Evaluation of theoretical assumptions and meta-analyses. Psychol Bull. 2002;128(1):3–72.PubMedCrossRef
67.
Allik J, Realo A. Individualism-collectivism and social capital. J Cross-Cult Psychol. 2004;35(1):29–49.CrossRef
68.
Lovasi GS, Grady S, Rundle A. Steps forward: review and recommendations for research on walkability, physical activity and cardiovascular health. Public Health Rev. 2012;33(4):484–506.PubMedPubMedCentral
69.
King AC, Sallis JF, Frank LD, Saelens BE, Cain K, Conway TL, et al. Aging in neighborhoods differing in walkability and income: associations with physical activity and obesity in older adults. Soc Sci Med. 2011;73(10):1525–33.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
70.
Owen N, Cerin E, Leslie E, du Toit L, Coffee N, Frank LD, et al. Neighborhood walkability and the walking behavior of Australian adults. Am J Prev Med. 2007;33(5):387–95.PubMedCrossRef
71.
Chen XR, Jiang Y, Wang LM, Li YC, Zhang M, Hu N, et al. Leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviors among Chinese adults in 2010. Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chin J Prev Med]. 2012;46(5):399–403.
72.
Sabia S, van Hees VT, Shipley MJ, Trenell MI, Hagger-Johnson G, Elbaz A, et al. Association between questionnaire- and accelerometer-assessed physical activity: the role of sociodemographic factors. Am J Epidemiol. 2014;179(6):781–90.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Association between social and built environments and leisure-time physical activity among Chinese older adults - a multilevel analysis
Authors
Junling Gao
Hua Fu
Jiang Li
Yingnan Jia
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2684-3

Other articles of this Issue 1/2015

BMC Public Health 1/2015 Go to the issue

Research article

The impact of the combination of income and education on the incidence of coronary heart disease in the prospective Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study

Research article

Joint association of physical activity and overweight with subsequent psychotropic medication: a register-linked follow-up study among employees

Research article

Is alcohol consumption in older adults associated with poor self-rated health? Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Research article

Beyond bridging the know-do gap: a qualitative study of systemic interaction to foster knowledge exchange in the public health sector in The Netherlands

Research article

Seroprevalence report on tick-borne encephalitis virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among Malaysian’s farm workers

Research

Perception of drinking water safety and factors influencing acceptance and sustainability of a water quality intervention in rural southern India