Citation

Liao Y, Lin CY, Huang JH, Park JH. Women Health 2016; 57(5): 551-565.

Affiliation

Dong-A University, Dong-A Anti-aging Research Institute , Busan , South Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/03630242.2016.1181138

PMID

27105304

Abstract

This study examined gender differences in the associations between perceived environmental factors and walking for recreation in Taiwanese adults. In 2014, a telephone-based cross-sectional survey targeting Taiwanese adults (20-64 years) was conducted. Data on nine items about environmental perception, time spent in walking for recreation and socio-demographic variables were obtained from 1,065 adults using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long version and its environmental module. Adults who perceived good aesthetics (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-2.23) and reported seeing people being active (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.21-2.06) were more likely to perform 150 minutes of recreational walking per week. Furthermore, significant interactions regarding walking for recreation were observed between gender and five environmental correlates: access to shops (p = .046), the presence of sidewalks (p < .001), access to recreational facilities (p = .02), seeing people being active (p = .001), and aesthetics (p < .001). These five perceived environmental factors were positively associated with recreational walking in women but not in men. Gender is a potential modifier between perceived environment and walking for recreation in adults. Perceived environmental factors appear to be more critical for women in performing health-enhancing levels of recreational walking than they are for men.

Language: en