The association between social capital factors and sedentary behaviour among older adults: Does the built environment matter?

Evidences in the literature uphold social capital factors, namely social networks and support as a buffer against sedentary behaviour. A recent school of thought also contends that the built environment supports these factors to reduce sedentary behaviour. This study examined the role of the built environment in the association between the said social capital factors and sedentary behaviour. Participants of the study were 504 volunteer older adults in Accra, Ghana. A self-reported questionnaire was used to gather data, and structural equation modelling was used to present findings through Amos. The structural model through which the associations were tested produced a good fit (χ2=231,32; p=0,198). The study confirmed that the built factors are directly and indirectly (via social capital factors) associated with sedentary behaviour. «Road structure and safety» and «health and paramedical services» directly reduced sedentary behaviour, while «public security services» was positively associated with sedentary behaviour. All the built environmental factors, except «care and recreational homes», influenced sedentary behaviour through the social capital factors. We conclude that built environmental factors reinforce social capital to reduce sedentary behaviour, but this support may also increase sedentary time if the built environment is not well structured.