Path Analysis to Assess Diversity of Occupational Opportunities Within Walking Distance and Community Health.

Importance: Built environment structures affect a population's occupational participation and health outcomes.

Objective: To examine how occupational opportunities available within walking distance are related to a community's overall health.

Design: Secondary data analysis.

Setting: Community.

Participants: Community-dwelling adults.

Outcomes and measures: Data from the AARP Livability Index and Walk Score® for 78 zip codes were used for path analysis and multiple regression analysis to investigate the relationship between various community factors and the health of the community.

Results: Path analysis for 78 zip codes revealed that the primary determinants of health score were destination diversity and social walk score. Multiple regression analysis revealed that destination diversity (β < .001) and exercise opportunity (β < .001) were significant factors for health score. Multiple regression analysis revealed that destination diversity (β < .001) was a significant factor for social score.

Conclusions and relevance: The results suggest that increased diversity of destinations in a community and opportunities available for social participation within walking distance are associated with better health of residents in the community. Plain-Language Summary: This study highlights how the built environment and opportunities for social participation are associated with a community's overall health. This study found that participation in a variety of group activities contributes to community members' well-being. Understanding how the built environment is related to health outcomes may better equip occupational therapy practitioners to improve the health of an individual, group, or population.