This study explored individual, social, and built environmental attributes in and outside of the retirement village setting and associations with various active living outcomes including objectively measured physical activity, specific walking behaviors, and social participation. Residents in Perth, Australia (N = 323), were surveyed on environmental perceptions of the village and surrounding neighborhood, self-reported physical activity, and demographic characteristics and wore accelerometers. Managers (N = 32) were surveyed on village characteristics, and objective neighborhood measures were generated in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results indicated that built- and social-environmental attributes within and outside of retirement villages were associated with active living among residents; however, salient attributes varied depending on the specific outcome considered. Findings suggest that locating villages close to destinations is important for walking and that locating them close to previous and familiar neighborhoods is important for social participation. Further understanding and consideration into retirement village designs that promote both walking and social participation are needed.
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Exploring Socioecological Correlates of Active Living in Retirement Village Residents
Andrea Nathan, Lisa Wood, and Billie Giles-Corti
Selling New Neighborhoods as Good for Walking: Issues for Measuring Self-Selection
Andrea Nathan, Lisa Wood, and Billie Giles-Corti
Background:
Self-selection—whether individuals inclined to walk more seek to live in walkable environments—must be accounted for when studying built environment influences on walking. The way neighborhoods are marketed to future residents has the potential to sway residential location choice, and may consequently affect measures of self-selection related to location preferences. We assessed how walking opportunities are promoted to potential buyers, by examining walkability attributes in marketing materials for housing developments.
Methods:
A content analysis of marketing materials for 32 new housing developments in Perth, Australia was undertaken, to assess how walking was promoted in the text and pictures. Housing developments designed to be pedestrian-friendly (LDs) were compared with conventional developments (CDs).
Results:
Compared with CDs, LD marketing materials had significantly more references to ‘public transport,’ ‘small home sites,’ ‘walkable parks/open space,’ ‘ease of cycling,’ ‘safe environment,’ and ‘boardwalks.’ Other walk-ability attributes approached significance.
Conclusion:
Findings suggest the way neighborhoods are marketed may contribute to self-reported reasons for choosing particular neighborhoods, especially when attributes are not present at the time of purchase. The marketing of housing developments may be an important factor to consider when measuring self-selection, and its influence on the built environment and walking relationship.
The Role of Grandparents in Facilitating Children’s Physical Activity
Michelle I. Jongenelis, Timothy Budden, Hayley Christian, David A. Coall, Ben Jackson, Andrea Nathan, and Emma Glassenbury
Background: Research suggests there is considerable opportunity to improve children’s movement behaviors while they are being cared for by their grandparents. An understanding of the extent to which grandparent practices facilitate children’s engagement in physical activity is critical to the development of health interventions targeting grandparent caregivers. This study examined the activity-related beliefs and practices of grandparents and their association with grandchildren’s engagement in various movement behaviors while in grandparental care. Methods: Australian grandparents (N = 1190; 60% women) who provided regular care to a grandchild aged 3–14 years were recruited via a web panel provider to complete an online survey. The survey assessed grandparents’ physical activity-related beliefs (eg, perceived importance) and practices (eg, support and social control) and their grandchildren’s engagement in physical activity (unstructured, structured, and outdoor play) and screen-based activities while in grandparental care. Results: The importance of grandchildren’s physical activity was rated highly by grandparents. Grandparents’ support for their grandchildren’s physical activity was positively associated with their grandchildren’s engagement in structured physical activity, unstructured physical activity, and outdoor play. Negative social control was associated with greater engagement in screen-based activities. Other correlates of grandchildren’s physical activity and screen-based activities included grandparents’ own engagement in these activities. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of reinforcing the beliefs and practices that positively influence children’s movement behaviors and addressing those that have unintended consequences. Encouraging grandparents to support their grandchildren’s physical activity and discouraging forms of negative social control are likely to be important in efforts to promote physical activity in children.
