Mall walking. An effective mental health intervention for older adults.

1. Traditional goals of health promotion and disease prevention are actually secondary factors in many walkers' motivations for mall-walking activity. 2. The routine of mall walking and the social relationships they form keep older adults going back to the mall. 3. Successful mall-walking program directors are beginning to understand the need to emphasize the social benefits of participating in a mall-walking group as much, if not more than, the health benefits of regular exercise.