The distance effects of environmental variables on older African American women's physical activity in Texas

Older African American women are one of the most inactive segments of the population in Texas. Because older adults are strongly impacted by their environmental settings, the environmental attributes that affect the level of physical activity among older African American women need to be investigated. This cross-sectional study empirically investigates the objective environmental variables that might encourage or discourage physical activity among older African American women. The study sample was composed of African American women aged 55–84 and residing in independent housing in Bryan, Texas (N = 80). Two environmental boundaries were defined in the investigation of the influences of natural and built environments: (1) nearby environment: half-mile street distance from the participant's house; and (2) neighborhood environment: 1 mile street distance from the participant's house. The findings revealed that at the nearby level, greenery density was positively associated with older African American women's physical activity, and intersection density influenced their physical activity at the neighborhood level. These results are expected to be useful to landscape architects, urban designers, and policy makers who seek to build healthy, safe, and active environments for older African American women.

► Findings showed that environmental settings were associated with older African American women's physical activity although the environmental effects differed by the level.
► Findings suggested that providing greenery would be help bring older African American women into their nearby surroundings in which hot weather prevails for most of the year.