The relationship between walkability and QOL outcomes in residential evaluation

Abstract

To improve social factors related to quality of life (QOL), slow travel modes, represented by walking, may enable more opportunities for physical activities/social contacts. The impacts of walking may vary by the walkability of spatial environments, namely, by how accessible activities are by walking, and how safe, comfortable, and pleasant neighborhood streets are for walking. Little is yet known about the influence of walkability on various QOL outcomes, especially in car-oriented Asian cities. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the relationship between walkability and QOL outcomes by assessing the relationship between their multiple indicators. We first defined the indicators of walkability and QOL. Then, a questionnaire-based survey was administered to 500 inhabitants of Nagoya city (Japan) for evaluations of their neighborhoods with the indicators of walkability (neighborhood street accessibility and street quality) and QOL (work, health, social relationship, and attachment). Finally, the relationships between walkability and QOL outcomes were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that, neighborhood street quality (particularly pleasurability) affected the QOL outcomes through the interrelationship among the outcomes, more significantly than accessibility. The findings suggest the importance of street quality in land-use transport planning.