ATTRIBUTES THAT PROVIDE QUALITY TO PUBLIC OPEN SPACES FOR THE OLDER ADULTS WALKING FOR LEISURE: A REVIEW
ATRIBUTOS QUE CONFEREM QUALIDADE AOS ESPAÇOS LIVRES PÚBLICOS PARA A CAMINHADA NO LAZER DE IDOSOS: UMA REVISÃO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29183/2447-3073.MIX2025.v11.n2.17-30Keywords:
Urban open spaces, urban green areas, leisure walking, older adultsAbstract
Regular physical activity is essential to improve and maintain the mental and physical health of the elderly and its practice is associated with the potential of urban open spaces. In order to support design and management of these urban spaces to be attractive to the elderly the central aim of this paper is to identify, through a systematic review of the literature, the attributes that provide quality to public open spaces for the walking for leisure of the elderly. The results showed that the spaces that observe the mobility limitations of the elderly allowing better accessibility conditions and the natural aspect of the environment are attributes desired by the elderly that appeared more frequently in the analyzed studies (they appeared in almost two thirds of them). Then there are the safety conditions and the quality of the sidewalks, mentioned in a little more than half of the studies. The proximity of these urban spaces to the elderly's residence, together with the relationship with water and infrastructure consisting of a walking path and the presence of benches, appeared in third place in the analyzed studies.
References
AN, S., LEE, Y., KIM, J. T. The effect of the public exercise environment on the physical activity for the active ageing of the elderly. Indoor Built Environment, 22;1:319–331, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X12471246
ARTMANN, M., CHEN, X., IOJĂ, C., HOF, A., ONOSE, D., PONIŻY, L., LAMOVŠEK, A., BREUSTE, J. The role of urban green spaces in care facilities for elderly people across European cities. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, v. 27, p. 203–213, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.08.007
ASPINALL, P. A., THOMPSON, C. W., ALVES, S., SUGIYAMA, T., BRICE, R., & VICKERS, A. Preference and relative importance for environmental attributes of neighbourhood open space in older people. Environment and Planning b-planning & design, v. 37, n. 6, p. 1022–1039, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1068/b36024
BAUMAN, A., SMITH, B., STOKER, L., BELLEW B., BOOTH, M. Geographical influences upon physical activity participation: evidence of a ‘coastal effect’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Vol. 23 No. 3, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-42X.1999.tb01265.x
CARLSON, J. A., SALLIS, J. F., CONWAY, T. L., SAELENS, B. E., FRANK, L. D., KERR, J., CAIN, K. L., & KING, A. C. Interactions between psychosocial and built environment factors in explaining older adults’ physical activity. Preventive Medicine, Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, San Diego State University, v. 54, n. 1, p. 68–73, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.10.004
CERIN, E., LEE, K. Y., BARNETT, A., SIT, C. H., CHEUNG, M. C., & CHAN, W. M. Objectively-measured neighborhood environments and leisure-time physical activity in Chinese urban elders. Preventive Medicine, Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, v. 56, n. 1, p. 86–89, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.10.024
COHEN, D. A., HAN, B., EVENSON, K. R., NAGEL, C., MCKENZIE, T. L., MARSH, T., WILLIAMSON, S., & HARNIK, P. The prevalence and use of walking loops in neighborhood parks: a national study. Environmental health perspectives, 125(2), 170–174, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP293
COLOM, A., FIOL, M., RUIZ, M., COMPA, M., MOREY, M., MOÑINO, M., & ROMAGUERA, D. Association between access to public open spaces and physical activity in a mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears (IdISBa), v. 15, n. 6, 2018. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15061285
CORDEIRO, A. M., OLIVEIRA, G. M., RENTERÍA, J. M., GUIMARÃES, C.A. Revisão sistemática: uma revisão narrativa. Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Corurgiões, Rio de Janeiro, v. 34, n. 5, p. 428-431, nov./dez., 2007. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-69912007000600012
CORSEUIL, M. W., SCHNEIDER, I. J., SILVA, D. A. S., COSTA, F. F., SILVA, K. S., BORGES, L. J., D'ORSI, E. Perception of environmental obstacles to commuting physical activity in Brazilian elderly. Preventive Medicine, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Post-Graduate Program in Public Health, Brazil, v. 53, n. 4–5, p. 289–292, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2011.07.016
ERONEN, J., VON BONSDORFF, M., RANTAKOKKO, M., & RANTANEN, T. Environmental facilitators for outdoor walking and development of walking difficulty in community-dwelling older adults. European Journal of Ageing, Gerontology Research Center and Department of Health Sciences v. 11, n. 1, p. 67–75, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-013-0283-7
FINLAY, J., FRANKE, T., MCKAY, H., SIMS-GOULD, J. Therapeutic landscapes and wellbeing in later life: Impacts of blue and green spaces for older adults. Health & Place, v. 34, p. 97–106, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.05.001
GIBSON, Stephen C. “Let’s go to the park”. An investigation of older adults in Australia and their motivations for park visitation. Landscape and Urban Planning, v. 180, p. 234–246, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.08.019
GILROY, Rose. Places that support human flourishing: lessons from later life. Planning Theory & Practice, 9:2, 145-163, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649350802041548
JORGENSEN, A.; ANTHOPOULOU, A. Enjoyment and fear in urban woodlands - Does age make a difference? Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, Department of Landscape, University of Sheffield, v. 6, n. 4, p. 267–278, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2007.05.004
KITCHENHAM, Barbara. Procedures for Performing Systematic Reviews. Joint Technical Report Software Engineering Group, Department of Computer Science Keele University, United Kinh and Empirical Software Engineering, National ICT Australia Ltd, Autralia, 2004. https://www.inf.ufsc.br/~aldo.vw/kitchenham.pdf
LOUKAITOU-SIDERIS, A., LEVY-STORMS,L., CHEN, L., & BROZEN, M. Parks for an Aging Population: Needs and Preferences of Low-Income Seniors in Los Angeles. Journal of the american planning association, v. 82, n. 3, p. 236–251, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2016.1163238
MITRA, R.; SIVA, H.; KEHLER, M. Walk-friendly suburbs for older adults? Exploring the enablers and barriers to walking in a large suburban municipality in Canada. Journal of Aging Studies, School of Urban and Regional Planning, v. 35, p. 10–19, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2015.07.002
MOWEN, A., ORSEGA-SMITH, E., PAYNE, L., AINSWORTH, B., & GODBEY, G. The role of park proximity and social support in shaping park visitation, physical activity, and perceived health among older adults. Journal of physical activity & health, v. 4, n. 2, p. 167–179, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.4.2.167
ORGANIZAÇÃO MUNDIAL DA SAÚDE. Guia Global: cidade amiga do idoso. Organização Mundial da Saúde, 2008. https://www.mds.gov.br/webarquivos/arquivo/Brasil_Amigo_Pessoa_Idosa/publicacao/guia-global-oms.pdf
PARRA, D. C., GOMEZ, L. F., SARMIENTO, O. L., BUCHNER, D., BROWNSON, R., SCHIMD, T., GOMEZ, V., & LOBELO, F. Perceived and objective neighborhood environment attributes and health related quality of life among the elderly in Bogotá, Colombia. Social Science and Medicine, v. 70, n. 7, p. 1070–1076, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.024
PETERSEN, E., SCHÖN, G., LIEDTKE, G., ZECH, A. Relevance of urban green space for physical activity and health-related quality of life in older adults. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Department of Sports, Physical Education and Outdoor Life, v. 19, n. 3, p. 158–166, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-01-2018-0002
PLESON, E., NIEUWENDYK, L. M., LEE, K. K., CHADDAH, A., NYKIFORUK, C. I., & SCHOPFLOCHER, D. Understanding older adults’ usage of community green spaces in Taipei, Taiwan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, v. 11, n. 2, p. 1444–1464, 2014. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110201444
REY GOZALO, G., MORILLAS, J. M. B., GONZÁLES, D. M., MORAGA, P. A. Relationships among satisfaction, noise perception, and use of urban green spaces. Science of the total environment, v. 624, p. 438–450, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.148
SAMPAIO, R.F.; MANCINI, M. C. Estudos de revisão sistemática: um guia para síntese criteriosa da evidência científica. Rev. bras. fisioter., São Carlos, v. 11, n. 1, p. 83-89, jan./fev. 2007. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-35552007000100013
SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ, D., ADAME RIVERA, L. M., RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ, V. Natural landscape and healthy ageing in place: the case of the Cumbres de Monterrery National Park in Mexico. Boletin de la asociacion de geografos espanoles, n. 76, p. 20–51, 2018. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20183289090
SANG, A. O., KNEZ, I., GUNNARSSIN, B., HEDBLOM, M. The effects of naturalness, gender, and age on how urban green space is perceived and used. Urban forestry & urban greening, v. 18, p. 268–276, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.06.008
SCHUETT, M., LEE, J., CHOE, Y., SIM, K. The Effect of Services and Facilities on Seniors’ Visitation Experiences in Seoraksan National Park, Korea. Asian women, v. 32, n. 3, p. 1–21, 2016. https://doi.org/10.14431/aw.2016.09.32.3.1
SUGIYAMA, T.; WARD THOMPSON, C. Associations between characteristics of neighbourhood open space and older people’s walking. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, v. 7, n. 1, p. 41–51, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2007.12.002
SUGIYAMA, T.; WARD THOMPSON, C.; ALVES, S. Associations between neighborhood open space attributes and quality of life for older people in Britain. Environment and Behavior, v. 41, n. 1, p. 3–21, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916507311688
THOMPSON, C. W., CURL, A., ASPINALL, P., ALVES, S., & ZUIN, A. Do changes to the local street environment alter behaviour and quality of life of older adults? the “DIY Streets” intervention. British Journal of Sports Medicine, v. 48, n. 13, p. 1059–1065, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-091718
THOMPSON, C. W.; ASPINALL, P. A. Natural Environments and their Impact on Activity, Health, and Quality of Life. Applied psychology-health and well being, v. 3, n. 3, p. 230–260, 2011. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01053.x
TILLEY, S., NEALE, C., PATUANO, A., CINDERBY, S. Older People's Experiences of Mobility and Mood in an Urban Environment: A Mixed Methods Approach Using Electroencephalography (EEG) and Interviews. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Feb 4;14(2):151, 2017. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14020151
YUNG, E. H. K.; CONEJOS, S.; CHAN, E. H. W. Social needs of the elderly and active aging in public open spaces in urban renewal. Cities, Department of Building and Real Estate, v. 52, p. 114–122, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.11.022
ZHAI, Y.; BARAN, P. K. Urban park pathway design characteristics and senior walking behavior. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, v. 21, p. 60–73, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.10.012
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fernanda Faccio Demarco, Vanessa Casarin

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons Copyright Notice
Attribution 4.0 International