Satisfaction with neighbourhood environment moderates the associations between objective neighbourhood environment and leisure-time physical activity in older adults in Beijing, China

Asia is ageing fast. To develop more effective health promotion initiatives among older adults, more knowledge of the environmental correlates of physical activity is needed. However, research in this age group is rare, and most existing studies have been conducted within Western contexts. The present study explores the interaction effects of objective neighbourhood environment and satisfaction with neighbourhood environment on leisure-time physical activity in older adults in Beijing, China. This study follows a cross-sectional design and involves older adults aged 65 years and over. The questionnaire was collected in 2018 and 2,061 older adults living in Yanshan, Beijing, China were included in the analysis. Linear regression was applied to examine the effects. The findings show that residents who live in places with higher levels of walkability, or those who are more satisfied with neighbourhood environment (either path/road/street condition or recreational resources) spent significantly longer participating in leisure-time physical activity. However, the objective neighbourhood accessibility of recreational resources was not a significant factor of physical activity. Satisfaction with neighbourhood recreational resources can significantly moderate the relationship between objective neighbourhood accessibility of recreational resources and leisure-time physical activity respectively. This is the first study conducted in China examining the relationships between objective neighbourhood environment, satisfaction with neighbourhood environment and leisure-time physical activity among older adults. This study may have implications for urban planning and service provision planning. The design of built environments that considers quality rather than only quantity can play a significant role in improving older adults' leisure-time physical activity.