A retrospective study on changes in residents' physical activities, social
Abstract
Objective. This study is to examine changes in residents' physical activities, social interactions, and neighborhood
cohesion after they moved to a walkable community in Austin, Texas.
Methods. Retrospective surveys (N= 449) were administered in 2013–2014 to collect pre- and post-move
data about the outcome variables and relevant personal, social, and physical environmental factors. Walkability
of each resident's pre-move community was measured using the Walk Score. T testswere used to examine the
pre–post move differences in the outcomes in the whole sample and across sub-groups with different physical
activity levels, neighborhood conditions, and neighborhood preferences before the move.
Results. After the move, total physical activity increased significantly in the whole sample and all sub-groups
except those who were previously sufficiently active; lived in communities with high walkability, social interactions,
or neighborhood cohesion; or had moderate preference for walkable neighborhoods.Walking in the community
increased in the whole sample and all subgroups except those who were previously sufficiently active,
moved from high-walkability communities, or had little to no preference for walkable neighborhoods. Social
interactions and neighborhood cohesion increased significantly after the move in the whole sample and all
sub-groups.
Conclusion. This study explored potential health benefits of a walkable community in promoting physically
and socially active lifestyles, especially for populations at higher risk of obesity. The initial result is promising,
suggesting the need for more work to further examine the relationships between health and community design
using pre–post assessments.
Subject
WalkabilityCommunity
Neighborhood
Environment
Physical activity
Social interaction
Self-selection
Department
ArchitectureLandscape Architecture and Urban Planning