Assessing the person-environment fit framework for active ageing

Danielle MacCarthy*, Cristian Silva, Deepti Adlakha

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

This chapter discusses the inclusion and integration of a preliminary analytical person-environment fit framework which recognises the urban context as a key health determinant worldwide. It has become necessary to respond to growing levels of sedentarism, identified as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, through incremental and tailored interventions, based on the ideas of complex adaptive systems. It is proposed that this framework can help to integrate and acknowledge the needs of older adults as a differentiated group where health models which concentrate on older adults as a unique and specialised demographic are called for in order to further research in understanding the pathways and mechanisms shaping their health behaviours, in particular highlighting internalised and individualised responses, understood here as concepts of fit between the individual and their surrounding neighbourhood and environments.

As cities and urban centres grapple to respond to ageing populations, there is a heightened awareness that the urban environments we live in play a key part in improving people’s health and wellbeing. Environments that are planned, managed, and inclusive in terms of spatial and physical form can help to promote and encourage health equity and wellbeing beyond a traditional ‘pathogenic’ focus on health risks and can provide a baseline for placing cities at the core of a more embracing understanding of the relationship between health and urban environments for older adults.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe empathic city. An urban health and wellbeing perspective
EditorsNimish Biloria, Giselle Sebag, Hamish Robertson
Place of PublicationSwitzerland
PublisherSpringer
Chapter2
Pages21-40
Number of pages19
ISBN (Electronic)9783031328404
ISBN (Print)9783031328398
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Jul 2023

Publication series

NameS.M.A.R.T. Environments
Publisherspringer
ISSN (Print)2523-8469
ISSN (Electronic)2523-8477

Keywords

  • Physical activity
  • Person-environment fit
  • Older adults
  • Urban neighbourhoods

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Health Professions
  • General Social Sciences
  • General Environmental Science

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