Active mobility can mediate the association between the perceived environment and quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Brazil

Abstract

Background

The literature highlights various environmental factors that affect quality of life. However, it notably lacks exploration of potential mediators in this relationship. This research aimed to investigate whether the association between perceived environment and quality of life can be mediated by active mobility.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Healthy Urban Mobility Project, conducted among adults and older adults living in urban areas of three Brazilian cities: Brasília, Florianópolis, and Porto Alegre. The Structural Equation Modeling technique was used to analyze the direct and indirect effects of perceived environment (places for walking and cycling, traffic safety, and crime safety domains) on quality of life (physical, psychological, social relations, and environment domains) mediated by hours of active mobility (walking and cycling).

Results

A total of 3296 individuals were surveyed, with a higher prevalence of females (66.6 %). The better the environment perception, the higher the active mobility engaging. There was a positive indirect effect of the perception of places for walking and cycling on the quality of life domains: physical (β = 0.006; p = 0.046), social relations (β = 0.023; p < 0.001), and environment (β = 0.018; p < 0.001), mediated by hours of active mobility.

Conclusion

It is concluded that active hours mediated the relationship between the perception of places for walking and cycling and the physical, environmental, and social quality of life.