International Research Team Launches Citizen Science Mall-Walking Project for Older Adults in Austria
A new €400,000 project led by researchers from Austria, Australia, and the UK aims to boost physical activity and social well-being among older adults through a peer-led mall-walking program in Lower Austria.
DRIVEN co-directors Professor Nikos Ntoumanis and Professor Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani are joining forces with research teams from Austria and Australia on a newly funded initiative to promote healthy ageing. The three-year project, titled “Developing and Evaluating the Feasibility of a Mall-Walking Program in Lower Austria to Promote Physical Activity, Social Engagement, and Well-Being in Older Adults, A Citizen Science Approach,” has received approximately €400,000 in funding from the Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Niederösterreich m.b.H.
Led by Dr. Marlene Kritz at the University for Continuing Education Krems, the project will co-design and test a peer-led mall-walking program tailored to older adults. The initiative emphasizes a citizen science approach, actively involving older adults in shaping the program based on their lived experiences and insights.
The goal is to create an evidence-based model that not only encourages physical activity but also reduces social isolation and enhances well-being. The findings will help inform future adaptations and the potential for scaling similar programs in other regions, contributing to healthier, more connected communities.