The effect of weather on walking behavior in older adults. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In this article, the authors examine how temperature and precipitation affect the probability that a retired American between the ages of 65 and 90 walks at least 2.5 hr/wk, using longitudinal data on walking frequency from the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, a subpanel in the Health and Retirement Survey. Walking behavior is linked with monthly temperature and precipitation data from weather-station reports. The authors found that higher temperatures were associated with a higher probability of walking at least 2.5 hr/wk for women. In contrast, higher temperatures are associated with a lower probability of walking at least 2.5 hr/wk among men. Precipitation is not significantly associated with walking behavior for either gender.

published proceedings

  • J Aging Phys Act

altmetric score

  • 0.25

author list (cited authors)

  • Dunn, R. A., Shaw, W. D., & Trousdale, M. A.

citation count

  • 9

complete list of authors

  • Dunn, Richard A||Shaw, W Douglass||Trousdale, Michael A

publication date

  • January 2012