Relationship between Living Environments and Recreational Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity Engagement in the Older Korean Population

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between living environments, such as regions, towns and dwelling types, and recreational moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (RMVPA) engagement in the older Korean population.Methods: A total of 7,594 male and female subjects aged ≥ 60 years were included. To evaluate living environments, participants’ regions, towns and dwelling types were each sorted into two conditions: (1) special regions (i.e., South Korea’s capital city and six metropolitan regions, the largest cities in each province) and (2) other regions; (1) dongs (urbanized areas) and (2) eups and myeons (rural areas); and (1) apartments and (2) houses. RMVPA was assessed using the short form of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and separated into tertiles.Results: The percentages of the lowest tertiles of RMVPA in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses were higher than those in one special and six metropolitan regions, dongs and apartments. However, the percentages of middle and highest tertiles showed the opposite results (<i>p</i>< 0.001 for all). Subjects living in special regions, dongs and apartments were 1.56, 1.94, 1.42, 1.66, 1.78, and 1.24 times more likely to be in the middle RMVPA tertile in male and female subjects, respectively, relative to those in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses (<i>p</i>< 0.01 for all). Those living in special regions, dongs and apartments were 1.80, 2.57, 1.52, 1.85, 2.23, and 1.21 times more likely to be in the highest RMVPA tertile in male and female subjects, respectively, relative to those in other regions, eups and myeons, and houses (<i>p</i>< 0.05 for all).Conclusions: Living in an apartment in a large, urbanized city may be positively related to higher RMVPA engagement in the older Korean population, regardless of sex.