Influence of residential self-selection and built environment on walking behavior to grocery stores

Introduction

While proximity to essential services like grocery stores is widely recognized as a key feature of walkable neighborhoods that support healthy lifestyles, existing research often overlooks the confounding effect of residential self-selection – where individuals choose to live in walkable areas because they already prefer walking. This omission can lead to overestimating the role of the built environment in shaping walking behavior. There remains a critical gap in understanding how much walking behavior is truly influenced by environmental features versus personal preferences. This study investigates the following research questions: (1) What percentage of residents consider walkability important and actually choose to walk to grocery stores? (2) Do individuals who walk perceive their built environments more favorably than those who do not? (3) How does the built environment influence walking behavior when accounting for residential self-selection?

Methods

This study analyzed survey data from 975 respondents in Orlando, Florida, targeting adults aged 18 and above. A structural equation model (SEM) was utilized to examine the factors influencing walking to the grocery store, including socio-demographic characteristics, social influence, perceived built environment, attitudes toward walking, and residential self-selection.

Results

The results revealed that individuals who place higher importance on walkability are more likely to walk to the grocery store. These residents also perceive shorter distances to stores and better sidewalk conditions. Additionally, the study found that socio-demographic characteristics like age, employment status, and car ownership negatively affect walking. In contrast, positive social influence and favorable attitudes towards walking positively impact walking behavior.

Conclusions

This study reveals the impact of residential self-selection and built environments on walking to grocery stores. These insights help policymakers enhance walkability through educational campaigns and infrastructure improvements. By fostering positive social influences and favorable attitudes toward walking, community initiatives can encourage walking, contributing to sustainable and healthier communities.