Examining the associations between the perceived neighbourhood environment and the elderly's walking behaviour in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong is faced with the issue of population aging, owing to declining birth rate and advancements in medical technologies. The future demographic trend requires the society to take heed of the quality of living environment near the elderly’s homes. The elderly tend not to travel outside their immediate neighbourhood very often compared to the younger generations, due to various factors such as poorer physical conditions and dwindling social networks. In view of this, ameliorating the neighbourhood environment can potentially engender a number of benefits for the elderly and for the entire city, which may include improved physical health, expanded social circles, and reduced burden on the welfare and healthcare systems. This study therefore attempts to look for the factors that significantly contribute to the elderly’s walking duration, and put forward some policy recommendations.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to examine the associations between the perceived neighbourhood environment and the elderly’s walking behaviour. The residential neighbourhoods were selected based on different spatial, socio-economic and environmental characteristics, and six sampling neighbourhoods were chosen. 108 questionnaires were collected in total, and the respondents were all aged 60 or above. The data was analyzed quantitatively through the Principle Components Analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS. Three principal components were extracted from the PCA, and they were put into the regression model together with other control variables. With reference to the results of the forward multiple regression, three items are statistically significantly correlated with the elderly’s average daily walking duration, namely working status, age, and PC2(i.e. a principal component named as shelters, shops, transport and social facilities).This component pertains to the perception towards the adequacy of covered walkways, the adequacy of shops and services, and the availability of shops and services, transport facilities, as well as recreational facilities within walking distance. In short, working status and age are found to be negatively correlated with the elderly’s walking duration, while PC2is positively correlated with it.

In order to create an elderly-friendly living environment, it is necessary to have a clear planning vision and consult the communities extensively. The government can have more collaboration with tertiary institutions and develop model neighbourhoods in new development areas, with these neighbourhoods having activity nodes close to each other. It should also provide a greater diversity of shops, and offer services and facilities with reference to local specific situations. In addition, apart from providing adequate sheltered walkways, the design of these walkways should be considered, in order not to exert physical strain on the elderly. The government should make continuous efforts in upgrading different neighbourhood environments, and first implement these improvement schemes in districts which will have a higher percentage of elderly population. Lastly, it may examine the feasibility of adopting innovative approaches for promoting walking, such as the Walking Point Programme in Yokohama.