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Bliekendaal S, Nauta J. Promoting public playgrounds usage and children's physical activity with sports activities: A quasi-experimental study. Health Place 2024; 87:103248. [PMID: 38631215 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the children's usage and their physical activity levels at playgrounds with (N = 4) and without (N = 4) organized sports activities, following a quasi-experimental study design. Direct observations were used to assess the playground usage and estimate the playground users' age category, sex, and physical activity intensity level. The results indicated that playgrounds with sports activities were associated with 53% more users at the time of the activities. However, this increase was only seen in boys. Furthermore, playgrounds with sport activities were not associated with different physical activity levels in children as compared to children on regular playgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bliekendaal
- AERES University of Applied Sciences Almere, Almere, the Netherlands.
| | - J Nauta
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Faculty of Sports, Physical Activity and Nutrition, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Yan T, Leng H, Yuan Q. The Effects of Winter Parks in Cold Regions on Cognition Recovery and Emotion Improvement of Older Adults: An Empirical Study of Changchun Parks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2135. [PMID: 36767502 PMCID: PMC9915963 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Urban parks are one of the primary settings for older adults to exercise, and their health benefits have been confirmed by a large number of studies. However, with the increased social attention to mental health, there is not enough research on the short-term mental health recovery of older adults in parks. Meanwhile, the health recovery effects of winter parks in special climate areas have not been well explored. This study aimed to explore the effects of winter parks in cold regions on the short-term mental health recovery of older adults and the potential predictors of these effects, including individual status, park characteristics, and behavioral characteristics. This study divided short-term mental health recovery into cognitive recovery and emotional improvement, and selected the digit span test and 10 kinds of emotional expression as the experimental methods, recruited 92 older adults from 6 parks in Changchun, and compared the pre-test and post-test results for evaluation. The results showed that winter parks in cold cities still had short-term cognitive recovery and emotional improvement effects on older adults. The main park characteristic factors affecting the overall cognitive recovery were the evergreen vegetation area and the existence of structures, and that which affected the overall emotional improvement was the main pathway length. Furthermore, individual conditions, including gender, age, physical health, living and customary conditions, and park characteristics, including park type, park area, main pathway length, square area, equipment area, evergreen vegetation area, the presence of water, and structures, all related to short-term mental health recovery effects. Among behavioral characteristics, stay time in parks and MVPA (Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity) times were also related to certain effects, but behavior type was not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjiao Yan
- School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Hong Leng
- School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Qing Yuan
- School of Architecture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
- Key Laboratory of Cold Region Urban and Rural Human Settlement Environment Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Harbin 150001, China
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Parra-Ovalle D, Miralles-Guasch C, Marquet O. Pedestrian street behavior mapping using unmanned aerial vehicles. A case study in Santiago de Chile. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282024. [PMID: 36989213 PMCID: PMC10057744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective observation of pedestrian behavior on the street has traditionally been difficult due to intensive commitment of time and resources with spatial analysis of pedestrian locations encountering additional problems. Recently, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have gained popularity due to the significant improvements they offer over other conventional observation systems, such as their ability to cover larger surface areas in less time. This study tests the performance of UAV-based observation techniques in measuring pedestrian activity in two comparative settings in Santiago de Chile. The study develops an alternative technique adapting the behavioral mapping methodology that allows acquiring information about the people's activities and the places where they are carried out. In this study a set of streets in the city of Santiago de Chile was selected as a case study, and the reliability of those observations was tested among raters in a population sample. Further, the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) in the data coding process is detailed and exemplified using some of its spatial analysis tools. The results show high levels of inter-rater reliability in the different categories of recorded data. Finally, we discuss the advantages and limitations in observing pedestrian behavior using this technology and observation technique.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carme Miralles-Guasch
- Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Marquet
- Institute for Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Puig-Ribera A, Arumí-Prat I, Cirera E, Solà M, Codina-Nadal A, Palència L, Biaani B, Pérez K. Use of the Superblock model for promoting physical activity in Barcelona: a one-year observational comparative study. Arch Public Health 2022; 80:257. [PMID: 36575474 PMCID: PMC9793503 DOI: 10.1186/s13690-022-01005-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Barcelona Superblock model transforms urban public spaces into active-friendly spaces, a key issue for public health. This study assessed the extent to which a newly developed Superblock in St. Antoni Market Square was used by citizens to perform physical activities and for sedentary behaviour during the first year of implementation. It then compared this citizens' use of the Superblock for physical activities and sedentary behaviour with a comparison site at one-year follow-up, when the Superblock was fully integrated into citizens' daily life. METHODS This observational comparative study (May 2018-May 2019) used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). SOPARC assessed citizens' sitting, standing, walking, practice of vigorous activities and use of electric scooter by gender, age group and time of the day. At the Superblock site, two observers completed five weekly observations: the opening week, and at three, five, eight and twelve months. At the comparison site, observers completed one weekly observation at twelve months after the implementation of the Superblock. Observations included 4 days/week (including weekends) and, 4 h/day (morning, midday, afternoon, evening). RESULTS At baseline, an average of 2,340 citizens/hour were observed using the Superblock but visits reduced by 12% in the next three observation weeks and 17.6% after one-year (mainly elderly and teenagers). At baseline, 92.9% walked in the Superblock, while 3.1% engaged in vigorous physical activity. After one year, citizens' walking decreased by 18.2%, from 2,170 citizens/hour at baseline to 1,930 citizens/hour. Citizens' engagement in vigorous activities also declined by 11%, from 73 citizens/hour at baseline to 65 citizens/hour at one-year follow up. In the comparison site, citizens' usage for walking and vigorous physical activity was similar to the Superblock. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to assess the extent to which citizens made use of the Barcelona Superblock model to perform physical activities, an urban built-environment intervention that is both novel and health-enhancing. The Superblock model would benefit from strategies maximizing effectiveness for promoting superblock-based physical activity, with special focus on seniors and teenagers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Puig-Ribera
- Research Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Ignasi Arumí-Prat
- Research Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Eva Cirera
- Research Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Marta Solà
- Research Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Anna Codina-Nadal
- Research Group in Sports and Physical Activity (GREAF), Centre for Health and Social Care Research, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/ Sagrada Família 7, 08500 Vic (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Laia Palència
- The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Brenda Biaani
- The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katherine Pérez
- The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), Pl. de Lesseps 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Poulos A, Wilson K, Lanza K, Vanos J. A direct observation tool to measure interactions between shade, nature, and children's physical activity: SOPLAY-SN. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2022; 19:127. [PMID: 36175908 PMCID: PMC9524068 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-022-01355-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most physical activity (PA) during school occurs at recess; however, recess PA may be influenced by children's thermal comfort and interaction with nature, neither of which have concurrently been measured reliably in previous studies. This study tests the reliability of SOPLAY-SN, an adaption of the validated System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY) to measure Shade and Nature (SN) alongside PA, and associations between children's PA and interaction with shade and nature during recess to highlight the utility of the tool. METHODS Interactions with shade and nature were measured using systematic direct observation at two playgrounds (primary-grade = ages 5-8, upper-grade = ages 9-12) during recess at an elementary school in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). Pairs conducted observations over four warm days (primary = 29-34 °C, upper-grade = 32-36 °C) in May 2021 (N = 179 scans). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to calculate inter-rater reliability. Mean counts, frequencies, and Kendall rank correlation coefficient tests were used to assess relations between PA level and interactions with shade and nature. RESULTS Reliability was good for sedentary behavior (ICC = 0.98); light PA (LPA; ICC = 0.80) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; ICC = 0.94); shade interaction (ICC = 0.95); and nature interaction (ICC = 0.80) and average agreement was good (86% overall PA, 88% shade, 90% nature). Most (60%) primary-grade children were observed in the shade, with 64% under a covered play structure where children were mainly (47%) sedentary. Of the 11% of primary-grade students observed interacting with nature, 90% occurred in a grass field with trees. Among upper-grade children, 23% were observed in the shade with 53% in grass fields where 48% of play was light. Few (7%) upper-grade children were observed interacting with nature, with most instances (76%) in a grass field with trees. Among primary-grade children, shade was correlated with sedentary behavior (τb = 0.63, p < .05); LPA (τb = 0.39, p < .05); MVPA (τb = 0.56, p < .05); and nature interactions with sedentary behavior (τb = 0.16, p < .05). Among upper-grade children, shade was correlated with sedentary behavior (τb = 0.27, p < .05) and LPA (τb = 0.21, p < .05). CONCLUSIONS SOPLAY-SN is a reliable tool for measuring children's interaction with shade and nature and participation in PA. Understanding how shade and nature impact movement during recess can inform playground design for children's health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Poulos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ USA
| | - Kylie Wilson
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ USA
| | - Kevin Lanza
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jennifer Vanos
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ USA
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Suminski RR, Dominick GM, Plautz E. Assessing Park Quality with a Wearable Video Device and an Unmanned Aerial System. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11717. [PMID: 36141990 PMCID: PMC9517251 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Parks are ideal places for promoting physical activity, which is vital for achieving and sustaining good health. Thus, it is important to develop and provide the best methods for assessing aspects of parks that could influence physical activity. This study examined the use of high-tech video capture for describing park quality. Videos were obtained with a wearable video device (WVD) and an unmanned aerial system (UAS) at 28 and 17 parks, respectively. In-person audits of park attributes were performed using the Physical Activity Readiness Assessment (PARA) instrument while video was simultaneously captured. The PARA provides quality ratings of park attributes that range from poor to good. Kappa statistics were calculated to compare in-person PARA outcomes with PARA outcomes obtained by reviewing the WVD and UAS videos. Substantial and almost-perfect agreements were found between WVD and in-person PARAs on the quality of features and amenities and the severity of incivilities. Agreements between UAS and in-person PARAs on feature and amenity quality and incivility severity were unacceptable (mostly fair and moderate). In conclusion, being able to reliably assess park quality using video provides advantages over in-person assessments (e.g., retrospective analysis). In addition, it sets up the possibility of utilizing computer vision to automate the video analysis process.
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Lanza K, Durand CP, Alcazar M, Ehlers S, Zhang K, Kohl HW. School Parks as a Community Health Resource: Use of Joint-Use Parks by Children before and during COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18179237. [PMID: 34501821 PMCID: PMC8430500 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Parks are settings for physical activity that can support the physical and mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined the impact of the pandemic on the use of joint-use parks outside of school hours by children in Austin, TX, United States. In autumn of 2019 and autumn of 2020 (i.e., before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), we used an adapted version of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to observe whether children aged 1-12 participated in physical activity (i.e., sedentary, light and moderate, vigorous) at three parks located at schools serving mostly economically disadvantaged Latinx families. In 2020, we also observed whether children maintained social distance and wore face coverings. Results of negative binomial regression modeling revealed the pandemic was associated with a 46% [95% CI: 20-63%] and 62% [95% CI: 39-76%] decrease in the number of girls and boys at parks, respectively, and a 42% [95% CI: 16-59%] and 60% [95% CI: 36-75%] decrease in the number of girls and boys engaging in physical activity, respectively (p < 0.01). In total, 60.6% of girls and 73.6% of boys were not social distancing, and 91.8% of the time no children wore masks. Interventions should be considered to safely reintroduce children to parks for health benefits during pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Lanza
- Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 77030, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Casey P. Durand
- Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health in Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Melody Alcazar
- Parks and Recreation Department, Austin, Austin, TX 78704, USA; (M.A.); (S.E.)
| | - Sierra Ehlers
- Parks and Recreation Department, Austin, Austin, TX 78704, USA; (M.A.); (S.E.)
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA;
| | - Harold W. Kohl
- Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 77030, USA;
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 78701, USA
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Prochnow T, Umstattd Meyer MR, Bridges Hamilton CN, Pollack Porter KM. Differences in Child Physical Activity Levels at Rural Play Streets Due to Activity Type and Sex. JOURNAL OF HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING 2020; 1:16-26. [PMID: 37790134 PMCID: PMC10544929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Children are significantly less active during summer months, and rural children may face unique barriers to engaging in physical activity. Play Streets is a low-cost way communities can provide safe play opportunities by activating public spaces. Four low-income rural communities received mini-grants to implement four three-hour Play Streets throughout summer 2017 for a total of 16 Play Streets. System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) and iSOPARC were used to assess physical activity. Chi-square tests of homogeneity determined significant differences in the proportion of children observed as active based on sex and target area type. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine if target area characteristics (i.e., type, equipped, supervised, organized) and presence of other active children or adults increased the odds of observing a child as active. In total, 1,750 children were observed across all 16 Play Streets; roughly half of all children (48.6% of boys, 48.7% of girls) were observed as active. There was no significant difference in proportion of children observed as active based on sex of the child (OR = 0.99, 95% CI:0.82-1.20). Significant differences in the proportion of active children were found between target area categories. Boys were significantly more likely to be observed as active in areas which were equipped or organized. All children were significantly more likely to be active if there was another active child present in the same area. These results add to the growing literature surrounding successful implementation of Play Streets in rural settings, social influence, and active play.
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Placement of Outdoor Exercise Equipment and Physical Activity: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Two Parks in Southern California. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17072605. [PMID: 32290320 PMCID: PMC7178161 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
To reduce the burden of chronic disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded the Orange County Partnerships to Improve Health (OC-PICH) project in Orange County, California. One of the strategies included adding outdoor exercise equipment (OEE) in two parks in Garden Grove and Anaheim. Using a quasi-experimental pre-post design, we evaluated park users’ physical activity levels before and after OEE installation using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). The OEE was installed along a walking path in Edison Park (Anaheim) and grouped within a single area (a “fitness zone”) in Garden Grove Park. In both parks, there were significantly greater odds of high-intensity physical activity overall after the installation—19% higher odds in Anaheim, and 23% higher odds in Garden Grove. However, the fitness zone area in Garden Grove had substantially higher odds of increased physical activity post-intervention (OR = 5.29, CI: 3.76–7.44, p < 0.001). While the increases in physical activity levels are consistent with past studies that link OEE to higher levels of physical activity among park users, our findings also suggest that the location and placement of equipment within a park may be an important factor to consider when improving park amenities for physical activity.
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