{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Understanding perceived park access and physical activity among older adults: A structural equation modeling approach.
{Author}: Fry D;McIntire RK;Kondo MC;
{Journal}: Health Place
{Volume}: 88
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 16
{Factor}: 4.931
{DOI}: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103258
{Abstract}: Parks can provide a low-cost setting for safe physical activity, but older adults are underrepresented among park users in the United States. Using data from a population-representative survey in 2015 and 2018 among adults aged 60 years and older living in Philadelphia, we tested whether perceived access was a mechanism by which objectively-measured park access predicted self-reported physical activity. After controlling for individual-level factors and neighborhood characteristics, we found a statistically significant pathway from overall park area and within-park tree canopy to increased physical activity, mediated by perceived park access. These results highlight the importance of tree canopy for older adult park access and physical activity.