Associations between built environments, heterogeneous walking behaviors, and wellbeing among pre-older and older adults in an upcoming super-aged society

Introduction and objective

Research has investigated the associations of the built environment with walking and wellbeing among older adults. However, how diverse walking behaviors differentially connect the relationships between the built environment and wellbeing among Asian pre-older and older adults is less explored. Thus, this study examined the relationships between pre-older and older adults' perceived walkability of the built environment, transport walking, recreational walking, health, and life satisfaction to identify tailored strategies for wellbeing promotion.

Methods

Data were collected by a face-to-face questionnaire survey from 162 pre-older adults aged 50–64 and 169 older adults aged above 65 in urbanized areas of Taiwan, an upcoming super-aged Asian society. Path analysis was used to examine the mentioned relationships while controlling sociodemographics and body mass index.

Results

The results indicated that land use diversity facilitated transport and recreational walking among pre-older adults but undermined transport walking among older adults. Moreover, recreational walking increased health and life satisfaction among pre-older adults, whereas both transport and recreational walking facilitated health and life satisfaction among older adults. Overall, recreational walking was more influential in wellbeing than transport walking for both groups.

Conclusions

As adults age, land use diversity becomes an adverse factor in walking, and walking becomes more pivotal in the association between built environments and wellbeing. Policymakers in Asia could draw on the determinants of pre-older and older adults' wellbeing to promote aging preparation and healthy aging.