Exploring the Walkability of Senior Citizens in a Densely Populated Neighborhood of Chennai, India—A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Walking is the most sustainable, safe, and active mode of transportation among the elderly. There is growing evidence that the built environment influences walkability. However, little research has been conducted to assess the perceived built environment correlates for senior citizens walking in low- and middle-income countries. This paper explores the relationship between built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens in Triplicane, Chennai, India. Seniors aged 60 years and above, both men and women, living in Triplicane, Chennai, were interviewed (n = 221). Personal characteristics and perceived built environment factors were assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for India (NEWS India). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26 and AMOS 21 software. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to examine the association between the built environment characteristics and the walkability of senior citizens. The results show that built environment attributes, namely pedestrian safety infrastructure, physical barriers of the neighborhood, and aesthetics, have a high impact on walkability among senior citizens.