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Environment and Behavior
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Associations Between Neighborhood Open Space Attributes and Quality of Life for Older People in Britain

Takemi Sugiyama

University of Queensland, t.sugiyama{at}uq.edu.au

Catharine Ward Thompson

Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University

Susana Alves

Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University

The existing literature suggests that neighborhood open space (NOS) may play an important role for older people in maintaining and enhancing their quality of life (QoL). However, little is known as to what attributes of such places are relevant to QoL in late life. This study explored what aspects of NOS are associated with health, life satisfaction, and outdoor activity (walking) for older people. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from 284 people aged 65 years or older, living in Britain. The results indicate that the pleasantness and safety of open spaces were relevant to participants' life satisfaction, whereas the quality of paths to open spaces was associated with walking behavior. The distance to NOS was also correlated with life satisfaction. However, no NOS attributes were associated with participants' health status. These results are further discussed in the context of designing NOS to enhance older people's QoL.

Key Words: older adults • outdoor environment • park • health • life satisfaction • walking

This version was published on January 1, 2009

Environment and Behavior, Vol. 41, No. 1, 3-21 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0013916507311688
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