Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status And Changes In Walking Activity Among Adults Aged 50-75

Research suggests that built and social environments influence physical activity such as walking, but the role of the neighborhood socioeconomic context is not fully understood. PURPOSE: To examine the influence of neighborhood socioeconomic status on the relationships between built environment and psychosocial factors and changes in walking activity over time. METHODS: Using a multilevel, prospective design, we collected data on walking activity assessed by self-report, both at baseline and 1-year follow-up, from 1,141 residents aged 50-75, across 120 neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon. Neighborhoods were divided into low and high socioeconomic status on the basis of median household income, percentage of population in poverty, and racial/ethnic composition. Within-neighborhood level measures were the objective measure of walkability, and residents' self-report of exercise self-efficacy and social cohesion. Change scores in walking were operationalized as values ≥75th percentile of positive change. The 2-level hierarchical data were analyzed using logistic regression with adjustments on neighborhood- and resident-level sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Among low-socioeconomic neighborhoods, residents living in low-walkable built environments were less likely to increase walking activity (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.68, confidence interval [CI] = 0.50,0.95). However, the likelihood increased for residents reporting high exercise efficacy (AOR = 1.07, CI = 1.01,1.14) and perceiving high neighborhood social cohesion (AOR = 1.22, CI = 1.01,1.48). CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhoods with low-socioeconomic status and low walkability are likely to be associated with reduced levels of walking. Efforts to increase exercise self-efficacy and foster social cohesion are likely to promote increases in walking activity in these neighborhoods. Supported by NIH Grant R01 ES014252