Abstract :
[en] Introduction : In the context of demographic ageing, maintaining adequate physical and cognitive capacities is essential to preserve autonomy in older adults. The living environment - home and neighborhood - can provide physical (e.g., stairs, a garden, or a walkable neighborhood) and cognitive (e.g., green spaces, population density, or public transport) stimulation. However, no study has yet quantified the influence of these environmental characteristics on autonomy or on its key determinants - physical activity and sleep - whose individual and combined effects play a crucial role in sustaining autonomy.
Objective : To assess the influence of (physical and cognitive) stimulation of the living environment on physical activity and sleep in older people.
Material & Methods : A total of 150 older people aged 75 and over, living independently at home, will be enrolled using different recruitment methods. Self-administered questionnaires will be used to collect data on socio-demographics, general health, physical activity (PASE), sleep quality, timing and sleepiness (PSQI, μMCTQ, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale) and the stimulating nature of the living environment (scoring tool developed by HabitAge team – Uliège). The relationships between the stimulating nature of the living environment, physical activity, and sleep will be examined using multiple logistic regressions. The mediating role of physical activity in the association between the
living environment and sleep will be explored through regression-based mediation analysis, decomposing total effects into direct and indirect effects using the product-of-coefficients approach. All statistical models will include relevant covariates, and significance level will be set at 5%.
Results: Participant recruitment and data collection have been completed. The study results are expected in 2026.
Conclusion: This study will provide valuable insights into whether a highly stimulating living environment is positively associated with physical activity and sleep. The findings will inform a two-year longitudinal confirmatory study, aimed at identifying the types of living environment that best promote autonomy among older adults.
