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Neighbourhood Walkability and Greenness Exhibit Different Associations with Social Participation in Older Males and Females: An Analysis of the CLSA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2024

Irmina Klicnik ,
Andrew Putman ,
David Rudoler ,
Michael J. Widener  and
Shilpa Dogra
Irmina Klicnik*
Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University, Faculty of Health Science, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
Andrew Putman
Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University, Faculty of Health Science, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
David Rudoler
Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University, Faculty of Health Science, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
Michael J. Widener
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Department of Geography and Planning, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
Shilpa Dogra
Affiliation:
Ontario Tech University, Faculty of Health Science, Oshawa, ON L1G 0C5, Canada
*
Corresponding author: Irmina Klicnik; Email: irmina.klicnik@ontariotechu.net
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Abstract

We explored the relationship between neighbourhood and social participation among older adults using a Living Environments and Active Aging Framework. This prospective cohort study used baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) with a 3-year follow-up. Three aspects of social participation were the outcomes; walkability and greenness at baseline were exposure variables. The sample consisted of 50.0% females (n=16,735, age 72.9± 5.6 years). In males, higher greenness was associated with lower loneliness and less variety in social activities. No significant associations between greenness and social participation were found in females. High walkability was related to a higher variety of social activity and higher loneliness in males but not females, and less desire for more social activity in both sexes. Greenness and walkability impact social participation among older adults. Future research should include sex and gender-based analyses.

Résumé

Résumé

Nous avons utilisé le cadre « Living Environments and Active Aging » (milieux de vie et vieillissement actif) pour explorer les liens entre le quartier de résidence et la participation sociale des personnes âgées. Cette étude de cohorte prospective a utilisé les données de base de l’Étude longitudinale canadienne sur le vieillissement (ELCV) avec un suivi de trois ans. Les paramètres d’évaluation étaient trois aspects de la participation sociale; la facilité de déplacement à pied et la verdure étaient les variables d’exposition. L’échantillon était composé à 50 % de femmes (n = 16 735, âge 72,9 ± 5,6 ans). Chez les hommes, une verdure plus étendue était associée à une plus faible solitude et à une moins grande variété d’activités sociales. Aucune association significative entre la verdure et la participation sociale n’a été trouvée chez les femmes. Une grande facilité de déplacement à pied était liée à une plus grande variété d’activités sociales et à une plus grande solitude chez les hommes, mais pas chez les femmes, ainsi qu’à un désir moindre d’activités sociales chez les deux sexes. La verdure et la facilité de déplacement à pied ont un impact sur la participation sociale des personnes âgées. Les recherches futures devraient inclure des analyses à ce sujet basées sur le sexe et le genre.

Keywords

active ageingneighbourhoodlongitudinallonelinessLEAAFvieillissement actifquartierlongitudinale

Information

Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , June 2025 , pp. 159 - 167
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© Canadian Association on Gerontology 2024

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