Cited by 246Urban Transport and AccessibilityUrban Green Space and HealthAging, Elder Care, and Social Issues

Environmental influences on healthy and active ageing: a systematic review

Open access
ANNEAR, MICHAEL, KEELING, SALLY, WILKINSON, TIM, CUSHMAN, GRANT, GIDLOW, BOB, HOPKINS, HEATHER·2014·Ageing and Society

Abstract

This paper explores the evidence for environmental influences on older adult health and activity participation, identifies current knowledge gaps and limitations within this literature, and offers recommendations for future research via a systematic appraisal of 83 quantitative and qualitative studies. A Cochrane-type review procedure was followed, which incorporated structured database searches, inclusion and exclusion criteria, quality appraisal of included studies, and peer review. The review findings identify support for both personal and environmental influences on health and activity participation in later life. Reported personal influences include ethnicity and cultural norms, energy and motivation, sex, age, education, genetic heritage, self-efficacy, and personal financial circumstances. Reported environmental influences on activity participation include climate, level of pollution, street lighting, traffic conditions, accessibility and appropriateness of services and facilities, socio-economic conditions, aesthetics, pedestrian infrastructure, community life, exposure to antisocial behaviour, social network participation, environmental degradation, level of urbanism, exposure to natural settings, familiarity with local environment and others. Recommendations for future research include the need for innovative research methods; involvement of older adults as research collaborators; investigation of wider aspects of the active ageing concept; in-depth assessment of the environmental characteristics of areas; investigation of the pathways leading from environment to health and activity participation; and more theoretically informed research or increased contribution of research to theory development.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1017/s0144686x1200116x

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101 of 101 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
ANNEAR, M., KEELING, S., WILKINSON, T., CUSHMAN, G., GIDLOW, B., & HOPKINS, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Otago (NZ)
  • Lincoln University (NZ)
Corresponding author
ANNEAR, MICHAEL
Venue
Ageing and Society
Published
2012-11-06
Volume
34
Issue
4
Pages
590-622
ISSN
  • 0144-686X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1779
OpenAlex
W2097127159
Cited by
246
References
100
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 2
FWCI
1.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Ageing and Society (publishedVersion)
  • eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
Keywords
active ageing, healthy aging, older adults, environmental determinants of health, physical activity participation, built environment, socioeconomic conditions, pedestrian infrastructure, social networks, antisocial behavior, environmental degradation, natural settings, self-efficacy, motivation, accessibility of services

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