Impacts of transport and recreational walkability on health and life satisfaction

Abstract

Research has investigated well-being relationships to walking and built environments. However, few studies have differentiated the impacts of environment walkability for transport and recreation on well-being. Therefore, this study identified perceived environment walkability (PEW) for transport and recreation separately and examined their associations with health status and life satisfaction. Data were collected from 300 residents in Taiwan by face-to-face questionnaire interviews. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the relationship between PEW, transport and recreational walking, body mass index, and health and life satisfaction, incorporating socioeconomic influences. Results indicated that perceptions of land use mix-access and street connectivity reflected PEW for transport, whereas perceptions of the two factors, aesthetics, land use mix-diversity, and walking facilities reflected PEW for recreation. Transport walking was not associated with well-being, but recreational walking was associated with higher health and life satisfaction. Moreover, higher BMI and lower health and life satisfaction were associated with car ownership. Based on the findings, policies for well-being improvement should promote recreational walking, instead of focusing solely on transport walking, by enhancing land use access and diversity, street connectivity, aesthetics, and walking facilities.