AUTHOR=Chang Shao-Hsi , Rutherford Ru , Hsueh Ming-Chun , Yu Yi-Chien , Park Jong-Hwan , Wang Sendo , Liao Yung 

TITLE=Neighborhood Environment and Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.552198

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.552198

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> We examined the relationships between objectively assessed neighborhood environment and the patterns of sedentary behavior among older adults.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of 126 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65 years or above) were recruited. Data on neighborhood environmental attributes (resident density, street intersection density, sidewalk availability, accessible destinations, and accessible public transportation), accelerometer-assessed total time and patterns of sedentary behavior (number and duration of bouts), and sociodemographic characteristics were collected. Multiple linear regression models were developed.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> After adjustment for potential confounders, greater sidewalk availability was negatively related to the number of sedentary bouts (β = −0.185; 95% CI: −0.362, 0.015; <italic>p</italic> = 0.034) and sedentary bout duration (β = −0.180; 95% CI: −0.354, −0.011; <italic>p</italic> = 0.037).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> This study revealed that a favorable neighborhood environment characterized by sidewalk availability is negatively associated with sedentary behavior patterns in Taiwanese older adults. These findings are critical to inform environmental policy initiatives to prevent sedentary lifestyle in older adults.</p>