Table 1 Proportion of different variables included in the analysis among papers focusing on older adults vs. the general population
General study characteristics | Older adults n = 24 (100%) | General population n = 122 (100%) |
|---|---|---|
Publication year | ||
 2016–2019 | 11 (45.8) | 57 (46.7) |
 2011–2015 | 10 (41.7) | 53 (43.4) |
 2005–2010 | 3 (12.5) | 12 (9.8) |
Journal field | ||
 Health | 13 (54.2) | 77 (63.1) |
 Inter- or multi-disciplinary | 9 (37.5) | 38 (31.1) |
 Transportation or urban studies | 1 (4.2) | 4 (3.3) |
 Environment or geography | 1 (4.2) | 3 (2.5) |
Geographical context | ||
 US and Canada | 12 (50.0) | 68 (55.7) |
 Europe | 7 (29.2) | 25 (20.5) |
 Middle East and Asia | 4 (16.7) | 4 (3.3) |
 Oceania | 1 (4.2) | 21 (17.2) |
 Latin America | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.6) |
 Multiple country | 0 (0.0) | 2 (1.6) |
Characteristics of the study design | ||
Research design | ||
 Cross-sectional | 18 (75.0) | 105 (86.1) |
 Longitudinal | 5 (20.8) | 16 (13.1) |
 Mixed | 1 (4.2) | 1 (0.8) |
Spatial data collection method | ||
 GIS | 22 (91.7) | 114 (93.4) |
 Audits | 2 (8.3) | 8 (6.6) |
Outcome data collection method | ||
 Self-reported | 14 (58.3) | 70 (57.4) |
 Device | 3 (12.5) | 31 (25.4) |
 Mixed | 7 (29.2) | 21 (17.2) |
Characteristics of the walkability measures | ||
Operationalization of walkability | ||
 Index | 19 (79.2) | 112 (91.8) |
 Separate variables | 5 (20.8) | 10 (8.2) |
Spatial extent and unit | ||
Spatial extent | ||
 Residential | 24 (100.0) | 107 (87.7) |
 School site | 0 (0.0) | 5 (4.1) |
 Residential + Workplace | 0 (0.0) | 4 (3.3) |
 Residential + School site | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.5) |
 Other | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.5) |
Spatial unit | ||
 Buffer | 17 (70.8) | 82 (67.2) |
 Statistical units | 4 (16.7) | 25 (20.5) |
 Administrative units | 3 (12.5) | 9 (7.4) |
 Combination | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.5) |
 Other | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.5) |
Associations found between walkability and walking-related outcomes | ||
 Positive | 15 (62.5) | 74 (60.7) |
 No association | 5 (20.8) | 18 (14.8) |
 Partial | 3 (12.5) | 20 (16.4) |
 Mixed | 1 (4.2) | 5 (4.1) |
 Negative | 0 (0.0) | 5 (4.1) |