The Influence Of Urban Community Built Environment On Leisure Time Physical Activity Of The Elderly

Objective: Based on the social ecological theory and health behavior theory,we analyzed the current situation and spatial distribution differences of leisure time physical activities of the elderly in Qinhuai District,and explored the influence of built environment on leisure time physical activities of the elderly in Qinhuai District.Methods: With the help of questionnaire survey method to obtain data on leisure time physical activity of the elderly,demographic data and subjective environment evaluation,GIS spatial analysis method to obtain objective built environment data of the neighborhood where the respondents live,mathematical and statistical methods to analyze the current situation and spatial distribution differences of leisure time physical activity of the elderly in Qinhuai District and investigate the influence of built environment on leisure time physical activity of the elderly.Results:(1)Leisure time physical activity in older adults was associated with age(r=-0.145,p=0.014),environmental satisfaction(r=0.282,p=0.000)and health self-assessment(r=0.197,p=0.001),respectively;(2)There existed significant spatial differences in leisure time physical activity levels of older adults in each street in Qinhuai District,where the leisure time physical activity levels of older adults in Wulaocun Street were significantly lower than in Yueyahu Street(p = 0.000),Hongwulu Street(p = 0.000),Shuangtang Street(p= 0.049)and Fuzimiao Street(p = 0.050);the level of leisure time physical activity of older people in Yueyahu Street was significantly higher than that in Hongwulu Street(p = 0.014)and Guanghualu Street(p =0.008);(3)The subjective environmental evaluation had a significant effect on the leisure time physical activities of the elderly.The level of leisure and sports activities of older adults with "very good" and "very good" environmental quality ratings was significantly higher than that of older adults with "average" environmental quality ratings,and the adjusted p-value were 0.001 and 0.002,respectively;(4)The objective built environment had a significant effect on the level of leisure time physical activity of the elderly.Population density had a significant positive effect on leisure time physical activity of older adults(B=0.0013,R2=0.068,p=0.018)and destination accessibility distance had a significant negative effect on leisure time physical activity of older adults(B=-4.343,R2=0.068,p=0.017).Conclusion:(1)The age structure of the respondents is pyramidal,with a higher participation rate of sports activities among younger seniors;there are gender differences in the education and income levels of the respondents,with older women having lower education and income levels;the health status of the respondents is not optimistic,with only more than 30% of seniors having good physical functions;in terms of family,the family retirement model is weakening,and the phenomenon of living alone needs attention;In terms of travel mode,the respondents formed a travel mode mainly by non-motorized travel and supplemented by motorized travel;in terms of environmental satisfaction,the elderly in Qinhuai District are more satisfied with the overall community environment;(2)The level of leisure time physical activity among older adults was related to age,environmental satisfaction,and health self-assessment.In terms of age,the level of leisure time physical activity tended to decrease with age;in terms of environmental satisfaction,the improvement of environmental quality increased the level of leisure time physical activity;in terms of health self-assessment,the higher the level of leisure time physical activity,the higher the health self-assessment score of older adults;(3)There are significant differences in the level of leisure and physical activities of the elderly in different streets in Qinhuai District.The high level of physical activity in street leisure time was mainly distributed in "Yueyahu-Moat River River-Inner Qinhuai River",forming four major strata,namely,Yueyahu as the first echelon,Ruijinlu,Daguanglu and Hongwulu as the second echelon,Shuangtang,Fuzimiao,Chaotiangong,Qinhong,Zhonghuamen,Guanghualu and Honghua Street as the third echelon,and Wulao Village Street as the fourth echelon;(4)Subjective environmental evaluation has a significant effect on the level of leisure time physical activity of the elderly.The respondents’ judgment criteria on the quality of the environment varied and were generally divided into three main categories: first,the community environment was not suitable for the elderly to travel or lacked exercise facilities;second,the quality of environmental facilities did not meet the exercise needs of the elderly;and third,the supporting facilities of the exercise venue were insufficient;(5)Objectively constructed environmental variables such as population density and destination accessibility had significant effects on older adults’ leisure time physical activity.An increase in population density helped to promote leisure time physical activity among older adults,while higher destination accessibility reduced the level of leisure time physical activity among older adults.