Introduction

A key determinant of healthy aging is active participation in daily activities. This study proposes a model that explains participation of community-dwelling older adults. The model examines travel attitudes and mobility behaviors as mediating factors between personal characteristics and participation in out-of-home daily activities.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults (N = 277; M = 75.17 years, SD = 6.90; 68.3% women). Participation was measured by the Activity Card Sort, and travel attitudes and mobility behaviors by a questionnaire. The proposed model was analyzed by the Structural Equation Model (SEM) using AMOS software and PROCESS analysis.

Results

The SEM yielded a goodness-of-fit between the observed model and the structural proposed model [χ²(51) = 76.52; p = .012; N = 277; χ²/df = 1.50]. This model explained 41% of the variance in the older adults' participation, with good indicators (normed fit index = 0.907, comparative fit index = 0.965, and root mean square error of approximation = .043). PROCESS analysis confirmed the central significant role that driving and attitudes towards using public transportation and walking plays in mediating between older adults' personal characteristics (e.g., age and gender) and their participation.

Conclusions

Our findings further underpin the importance of enabling older adults to use any available transportation modes to maintain their participation levels in out-of-home activities. Attitudes toward walking or using public transportation significantly affect their use of transportation modes to maintain their participation. Therefore, interventions should include improving public transportation accessibility, together with enhancing older adults’ attitudes towards using it.

中文翻译：

---

参加老年人的户外活动：流动性，态度和旅行行为的作用

介绍

健康衰老的关键因素是积极参与日常活动。这项研究提出了一个解释社区居民老年人参与的模型。该模型将出行态度和出行行为作为个人特征与参与户外日常活动之间的中介因素进行检验。

方法

在老年人中进行了一项横断面研究（N  = 277；M  = 75.17岁，SD  = 6.90； 68.3％的女性）。参与程度通过活动卡排序进行衡量，旅行态度和行动行为通过问卷进行衡量。通过使用AMOS软件和PROCESS分析的结构方程模型（SEM）对提出的模型进行了分析。

结果

该SEM产生所观察到的模型和结构提出的模型[χ之间的拟合优度的配合²（51）= 76.52; p  = .012；N  = 277；χ ² / DF  = 1.50]。该模型解释了老年人参与率的41％，具有良好的指标（规范拟合指数= 0.907，比较拟合指数= 0.965，均方根近似误差= .043）。过程分析证实，驾驶和态度对使用公共交通工具和步行起着重要的作用，可以在老年人的个人特征（例如年龄和性别）及其参与之间进行调解。

结论

我们的发现进一步强调了使老年人能够使用任何可用的交通方式来维持其参与户外活动水平的重要性。步行或使用公共交通工具的态度会极大地影响他们使用交通方式来保持参与度。因此，干预措施应包括改善公共交通的可及性，以及增强老年人使用公共交通的态度。