Women’s walking behaviour and subjective well-being in the middle-income neighbourhoods of Santiago, Chile

Walking remains the primary mode of everyday mobility for women in Chile, particularly in metropolitan areas with low to medium income populations. However, a range of barriers including among others concerns related to perceived insecurity have recently emerged and made walking more difficult. At the same time, subjective well-being has become an important topic in urban research over the past decade. This study examines the associations between women’s walking behavior and subjective well-being in medium-income neighborhoods in Santiago, Chile, considering socio-demographic, psychological, social, and built environment factors. It also explores perceived barriers to walking.

Data were collected from women in six middle-income neighborhoods in Santiago using a structured questionnaire and open-ended questions, based on a simple random sampling approach. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative relationships were examined using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Objective built environment indicators were also incorporated using GIS and audit tools.

Qualitative findings indicate that perceived insecurity is the primary barrier to walking among women, particularly factors related to crime, poor lighting, and unsafe street conditions. Quantitative results show a significant association between walking behavior and subjective well-being; however, this relationship is interpreted as associative rather than causal due to the cross-sectional design. The results further indicate that socio-demographic, psychological, social, and built environment factors are significantly associated with both walking behavior and subjective well-being, including income, employment status, walking attitudes, lifestyle patterns, personal values, social cohesion, companionship, perceived accessibility, insecurity-related perceptions, traffic safety, and pedestrian infrastructure quality.

The findings highlight the importance of addressing perceived insecurity and improving pedestrian infrastructure to support women’s walking behavior and subjective well-being in middle-income neighborhoods. Urban policies that integrate safety, accessibility, and social cohesion considerations may contribute to more supportive and sustainable urban environments in Santiago.