Perceived Neighborhood and Walking Among Older Brazilian Adults Living in Urban Areas: A National Study (ELSI-Brazil)

Click name to view affiliation

Bruno de Souza Moreira
Search for other papers by Bruno de Souza Moreira in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Amanda Cristina de Souza Andrade
Search for other papers by Amanda Cristina de Souza Andrade in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Luciana de Souza Braga
Search for other papers by Luciana de Souza Braga in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Alessandra de Carvalho Bastone
Search for other papers by Alessandra de Carvalho Bastone in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Juliana Lustosa Torres
Search for other papers by Juliana Lustosa Torres in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
Maria Fernanda Furtado Lima-Costa
Search for other papers by Maria Fernanda Furtado Lima-Costa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa
Search for other papers by Waleska Teixeira Caiaffa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2020-0227
Keywords:
environment; sex; urban health; epidemiology
First Published Online:
22 Oct 2020
In Print:
Volume 29: Issue 3
Page Range:
431–441
Restricted access

The study goal was to examine the association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and walking in urban older adults in Brazil. A cross-sectional study including 4,027 older adults from the baseline of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) was performed. Walking was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Neighborhood characteristics were questions about physical disorder, noise pollution, safety, violence, social cohesion, services, concerns with community mobility, and pleasantness. Multinomial logistic regression was used. Concern about taking the bus, subway, or train was inversely associated with walking for men. Violence (victim of theft, robbery, or had home broken into) and social cohesion (trust in neighbors) were positively and inversely associated with walking for women, respectively. A significant interaction term between social cohesion and number of chronic diseases was observed for women. These findings demonstrate the need for sex-specific interventions and policies to increase the walking levels among older Brazilian adults.

Moreira, Torres, Lima-Costa, and Caiaffa are with the Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Observatory for Urban Health in Belo Horizonte, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Andrade is with the Department of Public Health, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Braga is with the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Bastone is with the Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Lima-Costa is also with the René Rachou Institute—Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Moreira (brunosouzamoreira@gmail.com) is corresponding author.
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

  • Althoff, T., Sosič, R., Hicks, J.L., King, A.C., Delp, S.L., & Leskovec J. (2017). Large-scale physical activity data reveal worldwide activity inequality. Nature, 547(7663), 336–339. PubMed ID: 28693034 doi:10.1038/nature23018

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Andrade, F.B., Duarte, Y.A.O., Souza Junior, P.R.B., Torres, J.L., Lima-Costa, M.F., & Andrade, F.C.D. (2018). Inequalities in basic activities of daily living among older adults: ELSI-Brazil, 2015. Revista de Saúde Pública, 52(Suppl 2), 14s.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Balbé, G., Wathier, C., & Rech, C. (2017). Characteristics of the neighborhood environment and commuting and leisure walking in elderly. Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde, 22(2), 195–205.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ball, K., Cleland, V.J., Timperio, A.F., Salmon, J., Giles-Corti, B., & Crawford, D.A. (2010). Love thy neighbour? Associations of social capital and crime with physical activity amongst women. Social Science & Medicine, 71(4), 807–814. PubMed ID: 20561727 doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.04.041

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Barnett, D.W., Barnett, A., Nathan, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., & Cerin, E. (2017). Built environmental correlates of older adults’ total physical activity and walking: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14(1), 103. PubMed ID: 28784183 doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0558-z

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Benedetti, T.R.B., Rech, C.R., Konrad, L.M., Almeida, F.A., Brito, F.A., Chodzko-Zajko, W., & Schwingel, A. (2020). Re-thinking physical activity programs for older Brazilians and the role of public health centers: A randomized controlled trial using the RE-AIM model. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 48. PubMed ID: 32195215 doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00048

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Borchardt, J.L., Gomes, R., Samuel, P., & Dumith, C. (2019). The influence of built, natural and social environment on physical activity among adults and elderly in southern Brazil: A population-based study. International Journal of Public Health, 64(5), 649–658. PubMed ID: 30820587 doi:10.1007/s00038-019-01225-0

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cerin, E., Nathan, A., Van Cauwenberg, J., Barnett, D.W., & Barnett, A. (2017). The neighbourhood physical environment and active travel in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14(1), 15. PubMed ID: 28166790 doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0471-5

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chaudhury, H., Campo, M., Michael, Y., & Mahmood, A. (2016) Neighbourhood environment and physical activity in older adults. Social Science & Medicine, 149, 104–113. PubMed ID: 26708246 doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.12.011

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Christman, Z.J., Wilson-Genderson, M., Heid, A., & Pruchno, R. (2020). The effects of neighborhood built environment on walking for leisure and for purpose among older people. The Gerontologist, 60(4), 651–660. PubMed ID: 31513712

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Corseuil Giehl, M.W., Hallal, P.C., Brownson, R.C., & d’Orsi, E. (2017). Exploring associations between perceived measures of the environment and walking among Brazilian older adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 29(1), 45–67. doi:10.1177/0898264315624904

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Cunningham, C., Sullivan, R.O., Caserotti, P., & Tully, M.A. (2020). Consequences of physical inactivity in older adults: A systematic review of reviews and meta-analyses. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine Science in Sports, 30(5), 816–827. PubMed ID: 32020713 doi:10.1111/sms.13616

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Davis, C.M.A., Sentell, T.L., Barbosa, J.F.S., Ylli, A., Curcio, C., & Pirkle, C.M. (2019). Meeting physical activity guidelines by walking in older adults from three middle-income countries: A cross-sectional analysis from the international mobility in aging study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 11, 1–10.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Deka, D., Brown, C.T., & Sinclair, J. (2018). Exploration of the effect of violent crime on recreational and transportation walking by path and structural equation models. Health & Place, 52, 34–45. PubMed ID: 29777976 doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.05.004

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Foster, S., Knuiman, M., Villanueva, K., Wood, L., Christian, H., & Giles-Corti, B. (2014). Does walkable neighbourhood design influence the association between objective crime and walking? International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11(1), 100. PubMed ID: 25063998 doi:10.1186/s12966-014-0100-5

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Franco, M.R., Tong, A., Howard, K., Sherrington, C., Ferreira, P.H., Pinto, R.Z., & Ferreira, ML. (2015). Older people’s perspectives on participation in physical activity: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative literature. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 49(19), 1268–1276. PubMed ID: 25586911 doi:10.1136/bjsports-2014-094015

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gomes, C.S., Matozinhos, F.P., Mendes, L.L., Pessoa, M.C., & Velasquez-Melendez, G. (2016). Physical and social environment are associated to leisure time physical activity in adults of a Brazilian city: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One, 11(2), e0150017. PubMed ID: 26915091 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0150017

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Guthold, R., Stevens, G.A., Riley, L.M., & Bull, F.C. (2018). Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: A pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1.9 million participants. Lancet Global Health, 6(10), e1077–e1086. PubMed ID: 30193830 doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30357-7

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hallal, P.C., Reis, R.S., Parra, D.C., Hoehner, C., Brownson, R.C., & Simões, E.J. (2010). Association between perceived environmental attributes and physical activity among adults in Recife, Brazil. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(Suppl 2), S213–S222. doi:10.1123/jpah.7.s2.s213

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kohl, 3rd, H.W., Craig, C.L., Lambert, E.V., Inoue, S., Alkandari, J.R., Leetongin, G., & Kahlmeier, S. (2012). The pandemic of physical inactivity: Global action for public health. The Lancet, 380(9838), 294–305. PubMed ID: 22818941 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60898-8

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Leung, K.M., & Chung, P. (2020). Associations between social and physical environments and older adults’ walking for transportation and recreation. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 28(1), 24–33. PubMed ID: 31188695 doi:10.1123/japa.2018-0144

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Liao, Y., Huang, P., Hsiang, C., Huang, J., Hsueh, M., & Park, J. (2017). Associations of older Taiwanese adults’ personal attributes and perceptions of the neighborhood environment concerning walking for recreation and transportation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(12), 1594. doi:10.3390/ijerph14121594

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Lima-Costa, M.F., Andrade, F.B., Souza, P.R.B., Neri, A.L., Duarte, Y.A.O., Castro-Costa, E., & Oliveira, C. (2018). The Brazilian longitudinal study of aging (ELSI-Brazil): Objectives and design. American Journal of Epidemiology, 187(7), 1345–1353. PubMed ID: 29394304 doi:10.1093/aje/kwx387

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Malta, D.C., Silva, M.M.A., Albuquerque, G.M., Amorim, R.C.A., Rodrigues, G.B.A., Silva, T.S., & Jaime, P.C. (2014). National Policy for the Health Promotion, description of the implementation of the physical activity and body practices, 2006–2014. Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde, 19(3), 286–299.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Matsudo, S., Araujo, T., Matsudo, V., Andrade, D., Andrade, E., Oliveira, L.C., & Braggion, G. (2001). Physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ): Study of validity and reliability in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde, 6(2), 5–12.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mendes de Leon, C.F., Cagney, K.A., Bienias, J.L., Barnes, L.L., Skarupski, K.A., Scherr, P.A., & Evans, D.A. (2009). Neighborhood social cohesion and disorder in relation to walking in community-dwelling older adults: A multilevel analysis. Journal of Aging and Health, 21(1), 155–171. PubMed ID: 19144973 doi:10.1177/0898264308328650

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mielke, G.I., Silva, I.C.M., Kolbe-Alexander, T.L., & Brown, W.J. (2018). Shifting the physical inactivity curve worldwide by closing the gender gap. Sports Medicine, 48(2), 481–489. PubMed ID: 28647914 doi:10.1007/s40279-017-0754-7

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ministério da Saúde. (2010). Departamento de Informática do SUS. Brasília (DF). Retrieved from https://datasus.saude.gov.br/populacao-residente/

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Moreira, B.S., Kirkwood, R.N., Lopes, A.J., Dias, R.C., & Sampaio, R.F. (2012). Gait velocity and step length may discriminate active from sedentary elderly women. Revista Brasileira de Atividade Física & Saúde, 17(1), 33–38. doi:10.12820/rbafs.v.17n1p33-38

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nelson, M.E., Rejeski, W.J., Blair, S.N., Duncan, P.W., Judge, J.O., King, A.C., . . . Castaneda-Sceppa, C. (2007). Physical activity and public health in older adults: Recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(8), 1435–1445. PubMed ID: 17762378 doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616aa2

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ory, M.G., Towne, Jr, S.D., Won, J., Forjuoh, S.N., & Lee, C. (2016). Social and environmental predictors of walking among older adults. BMC Geriatrics, 16(1), 155. doi:10.1186/s12877-016-0327-x

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Peixoto, S.V., Mambrini, J.V.M., Firmo, J.O.A., Loyola Filho, A.I., Souza Junior, P.R.B., Andrade, F.B., & Lima-Costa, M.F. (2018). Physical activity practice among older adults: Results of the ELSI-Brazil. Revista de Saúde Pública, 52(Suppl. 2):5s.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Prins, R.G., Kamphuis, C.B.M., & Van Lenthe, F.J. (2019). The effects of small-scale physical and social environmental interventions on walking behaviour among Dutch older adults living in deprived neighbourhoods: Results from the quasi-experimental NEW ROADS study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 16(1), 133. PubMed ID: 31856841 doi:10.1186/s12966-019-0863-9

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ramachandran, M., & D’Souza, S.A. (2016). A cross-sectional survey on older adults’ community mobility in an Indian Metropolis. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 31(1), 19–33. PubMed ID: 26706252 doi:10.1007/s10823-015-9276-7

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Ribeiro, A.I., Pires, A., Carvalho, M.S., & Pina, M.F. (2015). Distance to parks and non-residential destinations influences physical activity of older people, but crime doesn’t: A cross-sectional study in a southern European city. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 593. PubMed ID: 26116071 doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1879-y

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Sallis, J.F., Cervero, R.B., Ascher, W., Henderson, K.A., Kraft, M.K., & Kerr, J. (2006). An ecological approach to creating active living communities. Annual Review of Public Health, 27(1), 297–322. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.27.021405.102100

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Salvador, E.P., Reis, R.S., & Florindo, A.A. (2010). Practice of walking and its association with perceived environment among elderly Brazilians living in a region of low socioeconomic level. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 7(1), 67. PubMed ID: 20846455 doi:10.1186/1479-5868-7-67

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Van Holle, V., Van Cauwenberg, J., De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Deforche, B., Van de Weghe, N., & Van Dyck, D. (2016). Interactions between neighborhood social environment and walkability to explain Belgian older adults’ physical activity and sedentary time. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(6), 569. doi:10.3390/ijerph13060569

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Vigitel. (2019). Surveillance of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases by telephone survey: Estimates of frequency and sociodemographic distribution of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases in the capitals of the 26 Brazilian states. Retrieved from http://www.crn1.org.br/vigitel-2019

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2537 357 31
Full Text Views 92 43 3
PDF Downloads 48 13 2