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Tuesday, November 11, 2025 @ NOON (EST)
What Gets Older Adults Moving? A Cross-Sectional Study of How Neighbourhoods, People & Places Shape Active Lives in Hong Kong
This topic examines how neighbourhood design and social context are associated with older adults’ physical activity in Hong Kong. Using surveys, accelerometers worn on the waist, and GIS, the study shows that perceived environmental qualities, especially aesthetics, walkability, safety, and social cohesion, are key drivers of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while family functioning and social network size show no direct effects. Aesthetics are negatively associated with light activity but positively associated with MVPA, and this MVPA benefit is strongest for people with smaller social networks. Spatial analyses reveal clusters of high and low activity and district level effects of access to facilities, road density, terrain, and population and building density. The findings point to geographically tailored, age friendly strategies, such as upgrading pedestrian environments and neighbourhood aesthetics, particularly in socially vulnerable areas, and strengthening community ties to amplify the benefits of supportive places.
Alison Ou is a postdoctoral fellow at Hong Kong Baptist University. She holds a PhD in Sports and Health Sciences and has a strong academic background in social policy, criminology, and conflict resolution. Her research focuses on aging, health equity, and the built environment, examining how sociocultural and environmental factors are associated with physical activity of older adults. With more than seven years of academic research experience, she has contributed to international and interdisciplinary projects across Hong Kong, and New Zealand. She bridges research and policy to develop inclusive, evidence based solutions that strengthen aging societies and support intergenerational cohesion, and she is committed to translating research into action and fostering global partnerships to address demographic change. Alison was a visiting PhD student at the Institute for Life Course & Aging in the Fall of 2024.
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 @ 12pm
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The Power of Friendship and Fun in Motivating Older Women to be Physically Active
Time spent by adults on recommended physical activity (PA) is low in spite of well-documented benefits. Using a qualitative study approach based on grounded theory to help understand motivation for physical activity over the lifespan, it was found that women 75 years of age and older engage in physical activity to maintain their independence and social connections. The model studied describes the type and intensity of affect, the power of friendship and fun over fitness benefits, and the longevity of habits in order for PA to be undertaken by women 75 years of age and older.
Janet MacFadyen M.Ed., EdD After a secondary school teaching career in Guidance and mathematics, mixed with other side jobs as a farmer, landlord, artist and writer, I returned to OISE and completed an EdD in counselling psychology. My thesis gave me an opportunity to understand the motivation for women to be physically active more fully. As a young person, I was keen to run, bike, swim and play many forms of sports. Now, I try to walk and stretch each day and optimistically regard myself as a gardener. Currently, I am establishing an equine therapy practice as I believe it is a healthy alternative to office visits and/or sessions via Zoom. My time is split between living in downtown Toronto (Little Italy) and a Simcoe County farmhouse where two rescue cats like to rule.
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Seminar Recording
Past Events:
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 @ 12pm
Turning Over a New Leaf: Links Between Nature Access and Outcomes in Long-Term Care
Peggy Chi, Peggy Chi, PhD MLA B.Arch.Sci . OALA CSLA
Postdoctoral Fellow | Landscape Architect
Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation
Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Event Poster
Recording TBA
Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023 @ 12pm
Successful Aging in Canada: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)
Mabel Ho, PhD, MSW, RSW
Research Affiliate
Institute for Life Course & Aging
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2023 @ 1pm
A TAILORED FIT: DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF A WEBSITE STRUCTURE SELF-TAILORING OPTION FOR OLDER ADULTS
Trevor Cross, MI
Faculty of Information, University of Toronto