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Original Article
Age-Friendly Neighborhood Environment and Active Aging among Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Outdoor Mobility and Social Participation and the Moderating Role of Functional Limitation
Dr. Lekshmi S Kaimal1
Dr. Johnson MM2
1 2 Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, CMS College Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Published Online: July-August 2026
Pages: 310-319
Cite this article
No DOIReferences
1. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025). Determinants of health-related quality of life in
elderly in Kerala. Mental Health, 67, 25-31.
2. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025). Women and men in midlife crisis: an evaluation
from holistic approach.
3. Abraham, A., Tom, F., & Arjunraj, R. D. (2021). Social health aspects of elderly: A study with special reference to Kottayam district. The
International Journal of Indian Psychology, 9(3), 2147–2152. https://doi.org/10.25215/0903.204
4. Aji, S. P., & Abraham, A. (2021). Impact of self-help groups in women empowerment: With special reference to Ernakulam district.
International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 2(1), 13–17.
5. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2022). Impact of ICT in rural financial wellbeing through farming tourism. In Reimagining business
education and industry in 2030 (pp. 93-105).
6. Anoop, P. S., and M. K. Biju. "Sustainable financial behavior and its determinants from an individual's perspective: A literature
synthesis." International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Management 10.12 (2025): 1-2.
7. Anoop, P. S., Biju, M. K., Sujith, P. S., & Keerthy, T. R. (2025). Enhancing Cardamom Price Forecasting: Integration of XG Boost Model
for a Robust Ensemble Model. South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, 22(10), 181-197.
8. Bollenbach, L., Kanning, M., & Niermann, C. (2024). Qualitative exploration of determinants of active mobility and social participation
in urban neighborhoods: Individual perceptions overobjective factors? Archives of Public Health, 82, Article 183.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-024-01408-z
9. Buffel, T., Phillipson, C., & Scharf, T. (2020). Age-friendly cities and communities: New directions for research and policy. Journal of
Aging & Social Policy, 32(4–5), 349–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2020.1751381
10. Choi, Y. J. (2020). Age-friendly features in home and community and the self-reported health and functional limitation of older adults:
The role of supportive environments. Journal of Urban Health, 97(4), 471–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00462-6
11. Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.12. Curl, A., Ward Thompson, C., & Aspinall, P. (2021). Outdoor environments and older people's mobility: A review of age-friendly
environments. Journal of Transport & Health, 20, Article 100977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100977
13. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-
SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
14. Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025). Who is left behind? Intersectional barriers in
women's empowerment programs in emerging economies. Development Studies Review, 18(2), 156-172.
15. Jones, C. A., Jhangri, G. S., Yamamoto, S. S., Hogan, D. B., Hanson, H., Levasseur, M., Morales, E., & Légaré, F. (2023). Social
participation of older people in urban and rural areas: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. BMC Geriatrics, 23, Article 439.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04127-2
16. Kim, S., Kim, J., Kim, K., & Buckley, T. (2024). Age-friendly environment and aging in place: Findings from latent profile analysis.
Research on Aging, 46(4), 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914150231194236
17. Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). Guilford Press.
18. Lawton, M. P., & Nahemow, L. (1973). Ecology and the aging process. In C. Eisdorfer & M. P. Lawton (Eds.), The psychology of adult
development and aging (pp. 619–674). American Psychological Association.
19. Levasseur, M., Généreux, M., Bruneau, J. F., Vanasse, A., Chabot, É., Beaulac, C., & Bédard, M. M. (2020). Importance of proximity to
resources, social support, transportation and neighborhood security for mobility and social participation in older adults. BMC Public
Health, 20, Article 1330. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09413-5
20. Marston, H. R., van Hoof, J., & Morgan, D. J. (2022). Creating age-friendly cities and communities: State of the art and future perspectives.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), Article 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010164
21. Moura, F., Cambra, P., & Gonçalves, A. B. (2021). Measuring walkability for distinct pedestrian groups with a participatory assessment
method. Landscape and Urban Planning, 206, Article 103977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103977
22. Mouratidis, K. (2021). Built environment and social well-being: How does urban form affect social life and personal relationships? Cities,
103, Article 102726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102726
23. Mouratidis, K., & Papagiannakis, A. (2021). COVID-19, internet use, and active aging among older adults. Journal of Population Ageing,
14(4), 623–639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-021-09340-0
24. Portegijs, E., Keskinen, K. E., Eronen, J., Saajanaho, M., Rantakokko, M., & Rantanen, T. (2020). Older adults' physical activity and the
relevance of distances to neighborhood destinations and barriers to outdoor mobility. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 335.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.0335
25. Portegijs, E., Lee, C., & Zhu, X. (2023). Activity-friendly environments for active aging: The physical, social, and technology
environments. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 1080148. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1080148
26. Schehl, B., & Leukel, J. (2020). Associations between individual factors, environmental factors, and outdoor independence in older adults.
European Journal of Ageing, 17(3), 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-020-00553-y
27. Sixsmith, J., Makita, M., Menezes, D., Cranwell, M., Chau, I., Smith, M., Levy, S., Scrutton, P., & Fang, M. L. (2023). Enhancing
community participation through age-friendly ecosystems: A rapid realist review. Geriatrics, 8(3), Article 52.
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8030052
28. Van Hoof, J., Marston, H. R., Kazak, J. K., & Buffel, T. (2025). Age-friendly environments, healthy aging, and community participation
among older adults: Emerging evidence and future directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(1),
Article 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010115
29. World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. World Health Organization.
30. World Health Organization. (2007). Global age-friendly cities: A guide. World Health Organization.
elderly in Kerala. Mental Health, 67, 25-31.
2. Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., & Biju, M. K. (2025). Women and men in midlife crisis: an evaluation
from holistic approach.
3. Abraham, A., Tom, F., & Arjunraj, R. D. (2021). Social health aspects of elderly: A study with special reference to Kottayam district. The
International Journal of Indian Psychology, 9(3), 2147–2152. https://doi.org/10.25215/0903.204
4. Aji, S. P., & Abraham, A. (2021). Impact of self-help groups in women empowerment: With special reference to Ernakulam district.
International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation, 2(1), 13–17.
5. Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2022). Impact of ICT in rural financial wellbeing through farming tourism. In Reimagining business
education and industry in 2030 (pp. 93-105).
6. Anoop, P. S., and M. K. Biju. "Sustainable financial behavior and its determinants from an individual's perspective: A literature
synthesis." International Journal of Research in Engineering and Applied Management 10.12 (2025): 1-2.
7. Anoop, P. S., Biju, M. K., Sujith, P. S., & Keerthy, T. R. (2025). Enhancing Cardamom Price Forecasting: Integration of XG Boost Model
for a Robust Ensemble Model. South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics, 22(10), 181-197.
8. Bollenbach, L., Kanning, M., & Niermann, C. (2024). Qualitative exploration of determinants of active mobility and social participation
in urban neighborhoods: Individual perceptions overobjective factors? Archives of Public Health, 82, Article 183.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-024-01408-z
9. Buffel, T., Phillipson, C., & Scharf, T. (2020). Age-friendly cities and communities: New directions for research and policy. Journal of
Aging & Social Policy, 32(4–5), 349–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2020.1751381
10. Choi, Y. J. (2020). Age-friendly features in home and community and the self-reported health and functional limitation of older adults:
The role of supportive environments. Journal of Urban Health, 97(4), 471–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-020-00462-6
11. Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.12. Curl, A., Ward Thompson, C., & Aspinall, P. (2021). Outdoor environments and older people's mobility: A review of age-friendly
environments. Journal of Transport & Health, 20, Article 100977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2020.100977
13. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-
SEM) (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
14. Johnson, R. M., Saseendran, A. K., Abraham, A., Anoop, P. S., & Biju, M. K. (2025). Who is left behind? Intersectional barriers in
women's empowerment programs in emerging economies. Development Studies Review, 18(2), 156-172.
15. Jones, C. A., Jhangri, G. S., Yamamoto, S. S., Hogan, D. B., Hanson, H., Levasseur, M., Morales, E., & Légaré, F. (2023). Social
participation of older people in urban and rural areas: Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. BMC Geriatrics, 23, Article 439.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-023-04127-2
16. Kim, S., Kim, J., Kim, K., & Buckley, T. (2024). Age-friendly environment and aging in place: Findings from latent profile analysis.
Research on Aging, 46(4), 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1177/00914150231194236
17. Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (5th ed.). Guilford Press.
18. Lawton, M. P., & Nahemow, L. (1973). Ecology and the aging process. In C. Eisdorfer & M. P. Lawton (Eds.), The psychology of adult
development and aging (pp. 619–674). American Psychological Association.
19. Levasseur, M., Généreux, M., Bruneau, J. F., Vanasse, A., Chabot, É., Beaulac, C., & Bédard, M. M. (2020). Importance of proximity to
resources, social support, transportation and neighborhood security for mobility and social participation in older adults. BMC Public
Health, 20, Article 1330. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09413-5
20. Marston, H. R., van Hoof, J., & Morgan, D. J. (2022). Creating age-friendly cities and communities: State of the art and future perspectives.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), Article 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010164
21. Moura, F., Cambra, P., & Gonçalves, A. B. (2021). Measuring walkability for distinct pedestrian groups with a participatory assessment
method. Landscape and Urban Planning, 206, Article 103977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103977
22. Mouratidis, K. (2021). Built environment and social well-being: How does urban form affect social life and personal relationships? Cities,
103, Article 102726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.102726
23. Mouratidis, K., & Papagiannakis, A. (2021). COVID-19, internet use, and active aging among older adults. Journal of Population Ageing,
14(4), 623–639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-021-09340-0
24. Portegijs, E., Keskinen, K. E., Eronen, J., Saajanaho, M., Rantakokko, M., & Rantanen, T. (2020). Older adults' physical activity and the
relevance of distances to neighborhood destinations and barriers to outdoor mobility. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 335.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.0335
25. Portegijs, E., Lee, C., & Zhu, X. (2023). Activity-friendly environments for active aging: The physical, social, and technology
environments. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 1080148. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1080148
26. Schehl, B., & Leukel, J. (2020). Associations between individual factors, environmental factors, and outdoor independence in older adults.
European Journal of Ageing, 17(3), 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-020-00553-y
27. Sixsmith, J., Makita, M., Menezes, D., Cranwell, M., Chau, I., Smith, M., Levy, S., Scrutton, P., & Fang, M. L. (2023). Enhancing
community participation through age-friendly ecosystems: A rapid realist review. Geriatrics, 8(3), Article 52.
https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics8030052
28. Van Hoof, J., Marston, H. R., Kazak, J. K., & Buffel, T. (2025). Age-friendly environments, healthy aging, and community participation
among older adults: Emerging evidence and future directions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(1),
Article 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22010115
29. World Health Organization. (2002). Active ageing: A policy framework. World Health Organization.
30. World Health Organization. (2007). Global age-friendly cities: A guide. World Health Organization.
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