본 연구에서는 근린생활권에서 고령자가 체감하는 외출 스트레스 정도와 그와 관련된 보행 활동 여건 간의 관계를 규명하고자한다. 즉 고령자의 aging well(aging in place)을 위한 근린보행환경의 영향요인을 검토하고, 이것이 고령자의 외출 스트레스(심리적 건강)에 미치는 효과에 대해 실증적 분석결과를 제시하는 것을 연구의 목적으로 한다. 분석 결과를 토대로 고령자의 외출 스트레스가 완화될 수 있는 근린환경 조성을 위한 정책추진의 근거를 검토하고 분석하고자 한다.
The purpose of this study was to identify the unfavorable environmental conditions that impede the walkability of the elderly in their neighborhoods and to investigate the relationship between the effects of those environmental conditions and the stress experienced by the elderly during their outdoor walks. The results of an empirical analysis we performed, confirmed that the stress experienced by the elderly when they walk outdoors decrease as the status of their health and their ability to perform daily activities improve. Vehicle parking and stopping on or near pedestrian crossings, road width at the crossings, and the pedestrian signal timing at the crossings also affect the outdoor walking mobility of the elderly and the stress they experience during their walks outside. Moreover, the better the walking accessibility of parks and community facilities, the less psychological challenges that the elderly will face during their walks outside; the outdoor stress of the elderly is found to reduce with their engagement in social activities and when the relationships they maintain with their neighbors become positive. Based on the results of the empirical analysis, a proposal is presented to create a neighborhood walking environment that can reduce the stress experienced by the elderly walking in their local neighborhoods and improve their outdoor walking mobility.