Abstract
This study sought to investigate the walking habits of older people from diverse cultural
backgrounds, and to identify the factors associated with their walking. Three hundred
and thirty three people over the age of 60 years were recruited from seven culturally
diverse groups from the Western suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. A survey questionnaire
recording physical activity, and various factors related to activity, was interviewer-administered
in the participants’ preferred language. Data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis,
χ2 and Mann–Whitney tests. Forty-seven percent of the participants walked at least 150 min per week, with no significant difference in prevalence between genders or cultural
groups. Some cultural differences were found in relation to reasons and locations
for walking, and women were more likely than men to report walking in the shopping
mall, whilst men were more likely than women to report walking in the park and along
walking trails. Those who attained >150 min of walking were more likely to report health and fitness as reasons for walking,
to perceive their walking environment as more pleasurable, to use walking trails,
and to consider their environment safe and to facilitate social interaction. This
study indicates that the continued advocating of walking as a health promoting activity
should be central to future campaigns to increase physical activity in this age group.
The provision of locations that are accessible, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and
encourage social engagement are likely to facilitate older people's participation
in walking. For maximum effectiveness, however, strategies may benefit from being
tailored to meet specific gender and cultural preferences.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 15, 2009
Accepted:
July 12,
2009
Received in revised form:
May 31,
2009
Received:
July 29,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
