Do changes to the local street environment alter behaviour and quality of life of older adults? The ‘DIY Streets’ intervention

Ward Thompson, C., Curl, A. , Aspinall, P., Alves, S. and Zuin, A. (2013) Do changes to the local street environment alter behaviour and quality of life of older adults? The ‘DIY Streets’ intervention. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(13), pp. 1059-1065. (doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-091718)

Abstract

<p>Background: The burden of ill-health due to inactivity has recently been highlighted. Better studies on environments that support physical activity are called for, including longitudinal studies of environmental interventions. A programme of residential street improvements in the UK (Sustrans ‘DIY Streets’) allowed a rare opportunity for a prospective, longitudinal study of the effect of such changes on older adults’ activities, health and quality of life.</p> <p>Methods: Pre–post, cross-sectional surveys were carried out in locations across England, Wales and Scotland; participants were aged 65+ living in intervention or comparison streets. A questionnaire covered health and quality of life, frequency of outdoor trips, time outdoors in different activities and a 38-item scale on neighbourhood open space. A cohort study explored changes in self-report activity and well-being postintervention. Activity levels were also measured by accelerometer and accompanying diary records.</p> <p>Results: The cross-sectional surveys showed outdoor activity predicted by having a clean, nuisance-free local park, attractive, barrier-free routes to it and other natural environments nearby. Being able to park one's car outside the house also predicted time outdoors. The environmental changes had an impact on perceptions of street walkability and safety at night, but not on overall activity levels, health or quality of life. Participants’ moderate-to-vigorous activity levels rarely met UK health recommendations.</p> <p>Conclusions: Our study contributes to methodology in a longitudinal, pre–post design and points to factors in the built environment that support active ageing. We include an example of knowledge exchange guidance on age-friendly built environments for policy-makers and planners.</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Curl, Dr Angela
• Authors: Ward Thompson, C., Curl, A., Aspinall, P., Alves, S., and Zuin, A.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Journal Abbr.: Br. J. Sports Med.
• Publisher: BMJ Group
• ISSN: 0306-3674
• ISSN (Online): 1473-0480
• Published Online: 14 December 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 The Authors
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Sports Medicine 48(13):1059-1065
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License