Research Center on Aging, University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, 1036 Belvédère sud, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2010 Nov-Dec;51(3):e52-6. doi: 10.1016/j.archger.2009.11.017. Epub 2009 Dec 31.
Environmental factors are important in maintaining a high level of participation. This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing the level of participation of older adults living in rural, urban and metropolitan environments and exploring sociodemographic factors associated with participation according to each type of environment. A total of 350 community-dwelling participants showing a normal aging process were randomly recruited. Participation in daily activities and social roles was measured with the Assessment of Life Habits. Sociodemographic and environmental data were gathered using a questionnaire. Participants from the rural region reported less schooling, a lower income, no access to public transportation and less access to stores than others. Participants from the metropolitan region differed in terms of less use of a car, less satisfaction with their social support and feeling less secure in their neighborhood. However, no significant difference was found between the metropolitan, urban and rural groups for participation in daily activities and social roles. Furthermore, the variables most associated with participation were similar for all three regions. This suggests that although the environment of older adults living in metropolitan, urban and rural region differs, their level of engagement in daily activities and social roles is similar.
环境因素对于维持高水平的参与度非常重要。本横断面研究旨在比较生活在农村、城市和大都市环境中的老年人的参与度，并根据每种环境类型探讨与参与度相关的社会人口学因素。共随机招募了 350 名表现出正常衰老过程的社区居住参与者。使用生活习惯评估量表来测量日常活动和社会角色的参与度。使用问卷收集社会人口学和环境数据。与其他地区相比，农村地区的参与者受教育程度较低，收入较低，无法使用公共交通工具，也无法更方便地去商店。与其他地区相比，大都市地区的参与者较少使用汽车，对社会支持的满意度较低，对社区的安全感较低。然而，在日常活动和社会角色参与方面，大都市、城市和农村地区之间没有发现显著差异。此外，与参与度最相关的变量在三个地区也相似。这表明，尽管生活在大都市、城市和农村地区的老年人的环境不同，但他们参与日常活动和社会角色的程度相似。
