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Influences of the Built Environment on Rural School Children's Travel Mode Choice: The Case of Chengdu. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159008. [PMID: 35897380 PMCID: PMC9331266 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Since the reform and opening up of China, the rural built environment has changed dramatically. There is a need to understand how such changes have impacted rural children’s school travel mode choice to design the built environment and plan schools accordingly. This paper combines field measurement methods and questionnaires to obtain data on rural children’s school travel behavior and uses the multinomial logit (MNL) model to investigate the impacting factors. The results show the following insights: Age has a significant positive impact on children’s choice of bicycles and buses. The improvements in road layout and facility conditions are significantly and positively associated with children’s choice of electric bicycles for school. There is a significant positive correlation between a good and safe public environment and children’s choice of cycling. Furthermore, distance from home to school has a significant impact on the choice of children’s school travel mode: the greater the distance to school, the higher the probability that children will choose motorized modes of travel such as buses and private cars. This study provides empirical data and evidence in designing rural transport systems for school children based on their preferences concerning built environment factors.
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Pulling Kuhn A, Cockerham A, O’Reilly N, Bustad J, Miranda V, Loboda TV, Black MM, Hager ER. Home and Neighborhood Physical Activity Location Availability among African American Adolescent Girls Living in Low-Income, Urban Communities: Associations with Objectively Measured Physical Activity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18095003. [PMID: 34065051 PMCID: PMC8125901 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18095003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Based on the ecological model of active living, the neighborhood environment may relate to individual physical activity (PA) behaviors. The purposes of this study were to (1) generate a replicable neighborhood-level physical activity location availability score (PALAS) from data variables associated with physical activity among adolescents and adults, and apply this score to Baltimore City, Maryland, and (2) determine if relationships exist between PA and PA location availability. Geographic information systems (GISs) were used to create the PALAS. Using linear regression models, we examined relations between objectively measured PA among low-income, urban, predominantly African American adolescent girls (n = 555, 2009-2012 data collection), and the PALAS rating of their neighborhood environment (neighborhood PALAS) and their home neighborhood area (PALAS variables/subcomponents within 0.25 miles of the home). A PALAS map of the study area was created, illustrating neighborhoods varying in availability and variety of PA locations. After adjusting for confounders, a higher neighborhood PALAS (β = 0.10, p = 0.041) and the presence of a recreation center in the home neighborhood area (β = 0.46, p = 0.011) were associated with more minutes per day spent in moderate to vigorous PA. Policy makers and stakeholders should consider increasing access to PA locations as a strategy to promote PA among adolescent girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Pulling Kuhn
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.P.K.); (M.M.B.)
| | - Alexandra Cockerham
- Cartographic Products and Services Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD 20746, USA;
| | - Nicole O’Reilly
- School of Social Work, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Jacob Bustad
- Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21204, USA;
| | - Victor Miranda
- Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA;
| | - Tatiana V. Loboda
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 21043, USA;
| | - Maureen M. Black
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.P.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Erin R. Hager
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (A.P.K.); (M.M.B.)
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(410)-706-0213
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Loh VH, Veitch J, Salmon J, Cerin E, Mavoa S, Villanueva K, Timperio A. Residential vs school neighborhoods: Associations with physical activity among adolescents. Health Place 2020; 63:102328. [PMID: 32250926 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents have the potential to be active in multiple places across weekdays and weekends. While the built environment features around home are known to be important for adolescents' physical activity, specific built environment features that facilitate physical activity outside the home neighbourhood are not well explored. Given that adolescents spend most days of the week at school, the built environment surrounding school may be particularly important for supporting their physical activity. This study examined cross-sectional associations of objective built environments around home and school at multiple spatial scales with accelerometer assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) across the week. Moderating effects of adolescents' age were further explored. Data from up to 417 adolescents aged 12-20 years from 18 schools in Melbourne, Australia were used. Features of the built environment around school were positively associated with MVPA on weekdays; and a wide range of built environment features around home were found to be important for MVPA during weekends. Age was found to moderate the relationship between some built environment features around both home and school and MVPA across the week. Understanding the contribution of the built environment features around both home and school with MVPA could inform policy recommendations and public health interventions for each setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venurs Hy Loh
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Jenny Veitch
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Jo Salmon
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Ester Cerin
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Australia.
| | - Suzanne Mavoa
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Karen Villanueva
- The Centre for Urban Research, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Australia; Policy and Equity Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia.
| | - Anna Timperio
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
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4
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Smith M, Obolonkin V, Plank L, Iusitini L, Forsyth E, Stewart T, Paterson J, Tautolo ES, Savila F, Rush E. The Importance of Pedestrian Network Connectivity for Adolescent Health: A Cross-sectional Examination of Associations between Neighbourhood Built Environments and Metabolic Health in the Pacific Islands Families Birth Cohort Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E3375. [PMID: 31547304 PMCID: PMC6765793 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The research aim was to investigate associations between objectively-assessed built environment attributes and metabolic risk in adolescents of Pacific Islands ethnicity, and to consider the possible mediating effect of physical activity and sedentary time. Youth (n = 204) undertook a suite of physical assessments including body composition, blood sampling, and blood pressure measurements, and seven day accelerometry. Objective measures of the neighbourhood built environment were generated around individual addresses. Logistic regression and linear modelling were used to assess associations between environment measures and metabolic health, accounting for physical activity behaviours. Higher pedestrian connectivity was associated with an increase in the chance of having any International Diabetes Federation metabolic risk factors for males only. Pedestrian connectivity was related to fat free mass in males in unadjusted analyses only. This study provides evidence for the importance of pedestrian network connectivity for health in adolescent males. Future research is required to expand the limited evidence in neighbourhood environments and adolescent metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Smith
- School of Nursing, the University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Vlad Obolonkin
- School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Lindsay Plank
- Department of Surgery, the University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Leon Iusitini
- School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Euan Forsyth
- School of Environment, the University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Tom Stewart
- School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Janis Paterson
- School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - El-Shadan Tautolo
- School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Fa'asisila Savila
- School of Population Health, the University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Elaine Rush
- School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
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Oluyomi AO, Knell G, Durand CP, Mercader C, Salvo D, Sener IN, Gabriel KP, Hoelscher DM, Kohl HW. Foot-based audit of streets adjacent to new light rail stations in Houston, Texas: measurement of health-related characteristics of the built environment for physical activity research. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:238. [PMID: 30819121 PMCID: PMC6393971 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6560-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Active travel to and from a transit station may provide significant amounts of physical activity and improve health. The ease with which people can traverse the distance to the transit station may impede or support active travel. Therefore, transit stations that have features that are supportive of utilitarian physical activity would be desirable. This study aimed to characterize the built environment surrounding new light rail transit (LRT) stations in the City of Houston, Texas. Methods In 2014, we used a series of systematic protocols and a standardized environmental audit instrument, the Analytic Audit Tool, to collect data on segments (streets) that surround 22 LRT stations that were being newly built. Using Geographic Information System (GIS), we assembled all the segments that intersect a 0.25-mile circular buffer around each station for the audit exercise. Several 3- to 4-member teams of trained auditors completed the audit exercise on a subset of these identified segments. Our analysis were descriptive in nature. We provided the frequency distributions of audited features across the study area. We also followed an original algorithm to produce several composite index scores for our study area. The composite index score is indicative of the prevalence of physical activity friendly/unfriendly features in the study area. Results In all, we audited a total of 590 segments covering a total of 218 US Census blocks, and eight City of Houston super neighborhoods. Findings suggest the environment around the new LRT stations may not be supportive of physical activity. In general, the audited segments lacked land use integration; had abandoned buildings, had uneven sidewalks; were not bike-friendly, had minimal presence of public-recreational facilities that would support physical activity; and had significant physical disorder. Notably, certain attractive and comfort features were frequently to usually available. Conclusions Current findings, which will be compared to follow-up audit data, can be useful for future researchers and practitioners interested in the built environment around LRT stations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6560-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiodun O Oluyomi
- Environmental Health Service, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030-3411, USA. .,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Gregory Knell
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Casey P Durand
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.,Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Clara Mercader
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deborah Salvo
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Ipek N Sener
- Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Texas A&M University System, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Kelley Pettee Gabriel
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Deanna M Hoelscher
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Harold W Kohl
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA.,Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, College of Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Individual and School Correlates of Adolescent Leisure Time Physical Activity in Quebec, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15030412. [PMID: 29495509 PMCID: PMC5876957 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15030412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) correlates have been mostly studied in relation to adolescents’ home neighbourhoods, but not so much in relation to the environment of their schools’ neighbourhoods. We sought to investigate how objective environmental measures of the schools’ vicinity are related to adolescents’ self-reported LTPA. Methods: Individual data from the Quebec High School Students Health Survey (QHSSHS) were matched with schools’ socioeconomic indicators, as well as geographic information system-based indicators of their built environments. Self-reported levels of LTPA during the school year were assessed according to intensity, frequency and index of energy expenditure. Associations per gender between covariates and LTPA were estimated using ordinal multilevel regression with multiple imputations. Results: Boys (21% of which were highly active) were more active than girls (16% of which were highly active) (p ≤ 0.01). The incremental variance between schools explained by the contextual variables in the final models was higher among girls (7.8%) than boys (2.8%). The number of parks or green spaces within 750 m around their schools was positively associated with student LTPA in both genders. Conclusions: The promotion of parks around schools seems to be an avenue to be strengthened.
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Hinckson E, Cerin E, Mavoa S, Smith M, Badland H, Stewart T, Duncan S, Schofield G. Associations of the perceived and objective neighborhood environment with physical activity and sedentary time in New Zealand adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2017; 14:145. [PMID: 29065897 PMCID: PMC5655834 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-017-0597-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is accumulating evidence supporting the association between neighborhood built environments and adults’ physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST); however, few studies have investigated these associations in adolescents. A better understanding of the features of the built environment that encourage PA or ST is therefore of critical importance to promote health and wellbeing in adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the associations of GIS-determined and perceived walkability components in individual residential buffer zones with accelerometer-assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and ST in adolescents. Methods The Built Environment in Adolescent New Zealanders (BEANZ) study was conducted in two cities (Auckland and Wellington) during the 2013-2014 academic school years. The exposure measures were subjective and objective environmental indices of activity-friendliness using four residential buffers. Road network buffers were calculated around participant’s residential addresses using the sausage buffer approach at 250 m, 500 m, 1 km, and 2 km scales. A 25 m radius was used for the buffers. Data were analysed using Generalized Additive Mixed Models in R. Results Data were analysed from 524 participants (15.78 ± 1.62 years; 45% male). Participants accumulated ~114 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ~354 min/day of ST during accelerometer wear-time (~828 min/day). The estimated difference in MVPA between participants with the 1st and 3rd quartiles observed values on the composite subjective environmental index of activity-friendliness (perceived land use mix - diversity, street connectivity and aesthetics) was equivalent to ~8 min/day (~56 MVPA min/week) and for the objective environmental index of activity-friendliness (gross residential density and number of parks within 2 km distance from home) was ~6 min of MVPA/day (~45 MVPA min/week). When both indices were entered in a main-effect model, both indices remained significantly correlated with MVPA with sex as a moderator. The predicted difference in sedentary time between those with the minimum and maximum observed values on the subjective index of non-sedentariness was ~20 min/day. Conclusions The combined assessment of the main effects of subjective and objective indices of activity-friendliness on NZ adolescents’ PA and ST showed positive relationships with MVPA for the subjective index only. The subjective index was a significant correlate of PA in both girls and boys, while the objective index was significant only in boys when sex was entered as a moderator. Further research is warranted to understand the relationships of ST with the built environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Hinckson
- Auckland University of Technology, Human Potential Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. .,Auckland University of Technology, Centre for Child Health Research, Institute of Public and Mental Health Research, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Ester Cerin
- Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Suzanne Mavoa
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Melody Smith
- School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Hannah Badland
- Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tom Stewart
- Auckland University of Technology, Human Potential Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Scott Duncan
- Auckland University of Technology, Human Potential Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Grant Schofield
- Auckland University of Technology, Human Potential Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
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Rockette-Wagner B, Hipwell AE, Kriska AM, Storti KL, McTigue KM. Activity Levels for Four Years in a Cohort of Urban-Dwelling Adolescent Females. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2017; 49:695-701. [PMID: 27875500 PMCID: PMC5358010 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000001152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Evidence suggests that female adolescents and those living in urban environments may have lower physical activity (PA) levels compared with their peers. Yet few studies report PA for urban adolescent females, and there is no consensus regarding potential causes for low PA in this subgroup. We examined PA levels, in a large, diverse cohort of 14- to 17-yr-old urban-dwelling females and assessed the effect of socioeconomic, personal, and neighborhood/environmental factors on PA. METHODS One week of time-stamped step count data were collected on 926 girls from the Pittsburgh Girls Study at four annual visits. Valid recordings (worn at least 10 h on 3+ d) were examined and compared with normalized step count values from a U.S. population-representative sample. Relationships between important covariates and average steps per day were examined with regression models. RESULTS Adjusted mean ± SD step counts per day at baseline were 5614 ± 2434 after controlling for important covariates with less than 6% of girls achieving at least 10,000 steps per day. The girls from the Pittsburgh Girls Study accrued ~45% of their steps during school hours. Age-specific median step counts per day for study participants were similar to the 25th percentile of U.S. population normalized values and did not significantly change during follow-up. Non-Hispanic African American race/ethnicity was associated with higher average step counts per day; obesity and a recent childbirth were associated with lower average step counts per day. CONCLUSIONS Step counts in this cohort of urban adolescent girls were considerably lower than expected for U.S. adolescent females. Targeted efforts to improve PA levels in urban youth should consider the importance of school-based activity while increasing PA opportunities outside of school.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrea M. Kriska
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
PA
| | - Kristi L Storti
- Department of Kinesiology, Health, & Sport Science,
University of Indiana, Indiana, PA
| | - Kathleen M. McTigue
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
PA
- School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
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9
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Graziose MM, Gray HL, Quinn J, Rundle AG, Contento IR, Koch PA. Association Between the Built Environment in School Neighborhoods With Physical Activity Among New York City Children, 2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2016; 13:E110. [PMID: 27536902 PMCID: PMC4993120 DOI: 10.5888/pcd13.150581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The benefits of physical activity for health and well-being are well established, yet built environment characteristics in the school neighborhood may constrain students’ ability to engage in physical activity and contribute to the considerable variation in physical activity among students at different schools. Methods Baseline data from the Food, Health and Choices obesity prevention trial were used to create multilevel linear models of the relationship between fifth-grade students’ (n = 952) physical activity and related psychosocial factors and characteristics of the built environment of the school’s neighborhood (park access, public transportation density, total crime, and walkability), controlling for age and body mass index z scores. Results Total crime was inversely associated with boys’ light physical activity duration (β = −0.189; P = .02) and behavioral intention for physical activity (β = −0.178; P = .03). Boys’ habit strength for physical activity was positively associated with public transportation density (β = 0.375; P = .02) and negatively associated with total crime (β = −0.216; P = .01), explaining 67% of between-school variation. Girls’ frequency of light physical activity was positively associated with park access (β = 0.188; P = .04). Built environment characteristics explained 97% of the between-school variation in girls’ self-efficacy in walking for exercise. Conclusions Characteristics of the built environment surrounding schools were associated with and explain between-school variation in students’ physical activity and several theory-based psychosocial factors. Partnerships between public health practitioners, policy makers, and school administrators may be warranted to shape the school neighborhood, specifically to decrease crime rates and increase park access, to encourage physical activity in youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Graziose
- Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College Columbia University, 525 W 120th St, Box 137, New York, NY 10027. E-mail:
| | | | - James Quinn
- The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy Built Environment and Health Working Group, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Andrew G Rundle
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | | | - Pamela A Koch
- Teachers College Columbia University, New York, New York
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10
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Durand CP, Oluyomi AO, Gabriel KP, Salvo D, Sener IN, Hoelscher DM, Knell G, Tang X, Porter AK, Robertson MC, Kohl HW. The Effect of Light Rail Transit on Physical Activity: Design and Methods of the Travel-Related Activity in Neighborhoods Study. Front Public Health 2016; 4:103. [PMID: 27376051 PMCID: PMC4899453 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Use of mass transit has been proposed as a way to incorporate regular physical activity into daily life because transit use typically requires additional travel to access and depart the stop or station. If this additional travel is active, a small but potentially important amount of physical activity can be achieved daily. Although prior research has shown that transit use is associated with physical activity, important questions remain unanswered. Utilizing a major expansion of the Houston, TX, USA light-rail system as a natural experiment, the Houston Travel-Related Activity in Neighborhoods (TRAIN) Study was developed to address these unanswered questions. Purpose The purpose of the TRAIN Study is to determine if the development of light-rail lines in Houston, TX, USA will prospectively affect both transit use and physical activity over 4 years. We also aim to understand how contextual effects (i.e., moderators or interaction effects), such as the neighborhood built environment and socioeconomic factors, affect the primary relations under study. Methods The TRAIN Study is a longitudinal cohort design, in which participants are recruited at baseline from a 3-mile buffer around each of the three new lines and measured annually four times. Recruitment is accomplished via telephone contact, ads in newspapers and advertising circulars, and targeted community outreach. Data are collected via mail and include questionnaire-assessed factors, such as perceived neighborhood characteristics, attitudes about transportation, demographics, and reported physical activity; a travel diary; and accelerometry. Additionally, field-based neighborhood audits are conducted to capture micro-scale environmental features. To assess macro-scale environmental characteristics, we utilize GIS mapping and spatial analyses. Statistical analyses will be conducted using latent growth curve modeling and discrete choice models, with a focus on identifying moderating factors (i.e., statistical interaction effects). Selection bias will be controlled via propensity score analysis. Conclusion The TRAIN study is a unique opportunity to study how a multi-billion dollar investment in mass transit can simultaneously affect transportation needs and physical activity behavior. This comprehensive evaluation will provide needed evidence for policy makers, and can inform health impact assessments of future transportation projects around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey P Durand
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA; Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Abiodun O Oluyomi
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health , Austin, TX , USA
| | - Kelley Pettee Gabriel
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Deborah Salvo
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Ipek N Sener
- Texas A&M Transportation Institute , Austin, TX , USA
| | - Deanna M Hoelscher
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Gregory Knell
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Xiaohui Tang
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA; Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Anna K Porter
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Michael C Robertson
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA; Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Harold W Kohl
- Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA; University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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11
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Loft MH, Lee CKC, Tagg BR, Loo JMY. Modern Malaysian-Based Students Perceive Southeast Asian Jungle Environments as Places of High Risk and Discomfort. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2015.0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Hope Loft
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Brendon Robert Tagg
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jasmine May Yee Loo
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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12
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Fast-food intake and perceived and objective measures of the local fast-food environment in adolescents. Public Health Nutr 2015; 19:446-55. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980015001366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
AbstractObjectiveWe examined associations between fast-food intake and perceived and objective fast-food outlet exposure.DesignInformation from the Health Behaviours in School-aged Children Study was linked to fast-food outlets in seventy-five school neighbourhoods. We used multivariate multilevel logistic regression analyses to examine associations between at least weekly fast-food intake and perceived and objective fast-food outlet measures.SubjectsData represent 4642 adolescents (aged 11–15 years) in Denmark.ResultsBoys reporting two or more fast-food outlets had 34 % higher odds consuming fast food at least weekly. We detected higher odds of at least weekly fast-food intake among 15-year-old 9th graders (ORall=1·74; 95 % CI 1·40, 2·18; ORboys=2·20; 95 % CI 1·66, 2·91; ORgirls=1·41; 95 % CI 1·03, 1·92), Danish speakers (ORall=2·32; 95 % CI 1·68, 3·19; ORboys=2·58; 95 % CI 1·69, 3·93; ORgirls=2·37; 95 % CI 1·46, 3·84) and those travelling 15 min or less to school (ORall=1·21; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·46; ORgirls=1·44; 95 % CI 1·08, 1·93) compared with 11-year-old 5th graders, non-Danish speakers and those with longer travel times. Boys from middle- (OR=1·28; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·65) and girls from low-income families (OR=1·46; 95 % CI 1·05, 2·04) had higher odds of at least weekly fast-food intake compared with those from high-income backgrounds. Girls attending schools with canteens (OR=1·47; 95 % CI 1·00, 2·15) had higher odds of at least weekly fast-food intake than girls at schools without canteens.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates that perceived food outlets may impact fast-food intake in boys while proximity impacts intake in girls. Public health planning could target food environments that emphasize a better understanding of how adolescents use local resources.
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Nicholson LM, Turner L, Slater SJ, Abuzayd H, Chriqui JF, Chaloupka F. Developing a Measure of Traffic Calming Associated with Elementary School Students' Active Transport. TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH. PART D, TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT 2014; 33:17-25. [PMID: 25506255 PMCID: PMC4260337 DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2014.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to develop a measure of traffic calming with nationally available GIS data from NAVTEQ and to validate the traffic calming index with the percentage of children reported by school administrators as walking or biking to school, using data from a nationally representative sample of elementary schools in 2006-2010. Specific models, with and without correlated errors, examined associations of objective GIS measures of the built environment, nationally available from NAVTEQ, with the latent construct of traffic calming. The best fit model for the latent traffic calming construct was determined to be a five factor model including objective measures of intersection density, count of medians/dividers, count of low mobility streets, count of roundabouts, and count of on-street parking availability, with no correlated errors among items. This construct also proved to be a good fit for the full measurement model when the outcome measure of percentage of students walking or biking to school was added to the model. The traffic calming measure was strongly, significantly, and positively correlated with the percentage of students reported as walking or biking to school. Applicability of results to public health and transportation policies and practices are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Nicholson
- The Institute for Health Research and Policy Health Policy Center University of Illinois Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 USA
| | - Lindsey Turner
- The Institute for Health Research and Policy Health Policy Center University of Illinois Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 USA
| | - Sandy J. Slater
- The Institute for Health Research and Policy Health Policy Center University of Illinois Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 USA
| | | | - Jamie F. Chriqui
- The Institute for Health Research and Policy Health Policy Center University of Illinois Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 USA
| | - Frank Chaloupka
- The Institute for Health Research and Policy Health Policy Center University of Illinois Chicago 1747 W. Roosevelt Road Chicago, IL 60608 USA
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Oyeyemi AL, Ishaku CM, Deforche B, Oyeyemi AY, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Van Dyck D. Perception of built environmental factors and physical activity among adolescents in Nigeria. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2014; 11:56. [PMID: 24766710 PMCID: PMC4008423 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding environmental factors related to adolescents' physical activity can inform intervention for obesity control and prevention, but virtually no study has been conducted in the African region, where adolescents' physical inactivity and chronic diseases rates are rising. This study assessed associations between perceived built environmental variables and adolescents' physical activity (active transportation to school and leisure-time moderate-to- vigorous physical activity), and the moderating effects of neighborhood-level income on association between environmental variables and physical activity among Nigerian boys and girls. METHODS Participants were 1006 adolescents (12-19 years, 50.4% girls) randomly selected from 11 secondary schools in Maiduguri city, Nigeria. Physical activity and perceptions of environmental characteristics were assessed by validated self-report questionnaires. Separate gender-based, hierarchical multiple moderated linear regression analyses were used to examine the direct associations between the environmental perceptions and physical activity variables (active transportation and leisure-time MVPA; dependent variables), as well as the moderating effects of neighborhood-level income. RESULTS Only in boys were direct associations and interaction effect of neighborhood-level income found. Access to destinations was positively associated with active transportation to school (β = 0.18; CI = 0.67, 2.24); while residential density (β = 0.10; CI = 0.01, 1.74) and availability/quality of infrastructures (β = 0.14; CI = 0.49, 2.68) were positively associated with leisure-time MVPA. Also, neighborhood-level income moderated the association between perceived safety and leisure-time MVPA, with more perceived safety related to less MVPA (β = -0.16; CI = -0.01, -0.70) in boys living in high SES neighborhood but marginally related to more MVPA (β = 0.11; CI = -0.04, 2.88, p = 0.06) in boys living in low SES neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS Few environmental attributes were associated with adolescents' physical activity in Nigeria. Future studies are needed to determine the multidimensional correlates of physical activity that may be relevant for both adolescents' boys and girls in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adewale L Oyeyemi
- Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Cornelius M Ishaku
- Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adetoyeje Y Oyeyemi
- Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Delfien Van Dyck
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Research Foundation Flanders, Brussels, Belgium
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Mmari K, Lantos H, Brahmbhatt H, Delany-Moretlwe S, Lou C, Acharya R, Sangowawa A. How adolescents perceive their communities: a qualitative study that explores the relationship between health and the physical environment. BMC Public Health 2014; 14:349. [PMID: 24726018 PMCID: PMC4000407 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-14-349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Well-Being of Adolescents in Vulnerable Environments (WAVE) study was conducted among adolescents aged 15-19 years in Baltimore, Ibadan, Johannesburg, New Delhi, and Shanghai to examine perceived factors related to their health. A preliminary analysis of the data, unexpectedly, revealed that the influence of the physical environment on adolescent health was a dominant theme across every site examined. To explore this further, this paper analyzed the specific components of the physical environment that were perceived to influence health, and how they contributed to various health outcomes across sites. METHODS Researchers in each site conducted in-depth interviews among adolescents; community mapping and focus groups among adolescents; a Photovoice methodology, in which adolescents were trained in photography and took photos of the meaning of 'health' in their communities; and key informant interviews among adults who work with young people. A total 529 participants from across the sites were included in the analysis. RESULTS Findings showed that while there was surprising uniformity in how adolescents characterized their physical environment, perceived health outcomes related to the physical environment varied by site and gender. In Baltimore and Johannesburg, vacant homes and the lack of recreation facilities were perceived to impact on sexual and reproductive health problems for girls, while among boys they contributed to drugs and violence. In Shanghai, New Delhi, and Ibadan, garbage and trash observed in their communities were perceived to have a higher impact on infectious and chronic diseases. CONCLUSIONS As the world continues to urbanize, our study points to a strong need to examine how the physical aspects of a living environment contribute to the health of adolescents. Specific aspects, such as housing, safety, garbage, and recreational spaces must all be examined as possible pathways for making improvements to health of adolescents, particularly among those living in poor urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Mmari
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Hannah Lantos
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Heena Brahmbhatt
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Sinead Delany-Moretlwe
- Witts Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of Witwatersand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Chaohua Lou
- Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Adesola Sangowawa
- College of Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Roman CG, Stodolska M, Yahner J, Shinew K. Pathways to Outdoor Recreation, Physical Activity, and Delinquency Among Urban Latino Adolescents. Ann Behav Med 2012; 45 Suppl 1:S151-61. [DOI: 10.1007/s12160-012-9418-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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