Effect of High Temperature on Walking among Residents of Rural and Urban Communities

PURPOSE: This study aimed to establish the association between high temperature and walking among residents of rural and urban areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea Meteorological Administration and the 2018 Community Health Survey to confirm the association between temperature and walking practice. The dependent variable was walking practice. Walking practice was considered if the participants walked for more than 30 minutes a day or more than 5 days a week. The independent variable was the daily maximum temperature (℃) for the preceding 7 days, calculated from the survey date of each participant. A multilevel analysis was conducted to simultaneously consider the individual- and neighborhood-level variables that could affect determining the association between daily maximum temperatures and walking practice. RESULTS: When the daily maximum temperature increased by 1℃, the odds ratio of walking practice decreased to 0.95 (95% confidence interval 0.94–0.97) in rural areas. In contrast, it decreased to 0.98 (95% confidence interval 0.97–1.00) in urban areas, considering both individual- and neighborhood-level factors. Individual- and neighborhood-level determinants of walking practice in rural areas, including educational attainment, marital status, driving a car, subjective health, depression, and meeting neighbors and friends, were confirmed. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that increased temperature led to more decrease in physical activity levels in rural areas than in urban areas. Physical and environmental approaches to avoid heat are needed to maintain and promote physical activity, since temperatures can reduce physical activity during the hot summer months.