Neighborhood Perceptions and Active Commuting to School Among Adolescent Boys and Girls

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norah M. Nelson ◽  
Catherine B. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Public Parks ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Road ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Land Use Mix

Background:Active commuting (AC) to school can increase daily minutes of physical activity yet research is lacking on its determinants. This study examined perceptions of the physical environment as a correlate of AC among adolescents.Methods:Cross-sectional data were collected from 1143 males and 1016 females (mean age 16.04 ± 0.66) who lived within 2.5 miles of their school. Participants’ self-reported active (walk or cycle) or inactive (car, bus, or train) mode of travel to school and perceptions of their neighborhood environment. Bivariate logistic regression examined perceived environmental features associated with active versus inactive modes, adjusted for sociodemographic factors. Significant variables were examined in multivariate models, adjusted for population density and distance.Results:Positive correlates of AC included well-lit streets, land-use-mix diversity, access to shops/public transport, the presence of public parks/bike lanes, and accessible well-maintained paths. Connectivity was unrelated to mode choice. In multivariate analyses, land-use-mix diversity, and the perceived presence of public parks remained significant among males, whereas excess traffic speed, shops within walking distance, and paths separate from the road remained significant among females.Conclusions:Environmental characteristics were associated with active commuting to school, however research must address methodological issues before making recommendations for intervention.

scholarly journals Association between Perceived Built Environment and Prevalent Hypertension among South African Adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasmore Malambo ◽  
Andre P. Kengne ◽  
Estelle V. Lambert ◽  
Anniza De Villers ◽  
Thandi Puoane
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
South African ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Land Use Mix ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Logistic Regressions

Introduction. The association between perceived built environmental attributes and hypertension among adults has received little attention in an African context. We investigated the association between the perceived built environment and prevalent hypertension in adult South Africans. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted using 2008-2009 Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology data among South African (n=671) adults aged ≥35 years. Perceived built environment was assessed using the neighborhood environment walkability scale questionnaire. Prevalent hypertension was defined as previously diagnosed by a physician, screen-detected hypertension as ≥140/90 mmHg, and a combination of both as any hypertension. Logistic regressions were applied for analyses. Results. In crude logistic regressions, self-reported hypertension was associated with land use mix-diversity, street connectivity, infrastructure for walking/cycling, aesthetics, traffic, and crime. In adjusted model, land use mix-diversity was significantly associated with self-reported hypertension. In similar multivariable models, the direction and magnitude of the effects were mostly similar to the outcomes of “screen-detected hypertension” which was further predicted by perceived lack of safety from traffic. Conclusion. Perceived built environment attributes were significantly associated with hypertension. This has relevance to population-based approaches to hypertension prevention and control.

Built Environment and Frailty: Neighborhood Perceptions and Associations With Frailty, Experience From the Nagoya Longitudinal Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482091266
Author(s):  
Beatriz A. Martins ◽  
Renuka Visvanathan ◽  
Helen R. Barrie ◽  
Chi Hsien Huang ◽  
Eiji Matsushita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Frailty Index ◽  
Composite Index ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Frailty Status ◽  
Land Use Mix ◽  
Sectional Analysis

Neighborhood physical characteristics have been consistently associated with the health of older adults. This article investigates links between frailty and perceptions of the neighborhood environment. Using a cross-sectional analysis of 370 community-dwelling older adults from Nagoya, Japan, neighborhood perceptions were assessed using the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS) in addition to frailty, using a frailty index. Frailty was associated with the NEWS composite index, land use mix diversity, land use mix access, street connectivity, walking infrastructure, aesthetics, and crime safety, after adjustment for covariates. Older adults with increasing frailty have poorer perceptions of their neighborhoods, which could lead to further constriction of the life-space, less social and physical engagement, and worsening of frailty status.

scholarly journals Does Community Type Moderate the Relationship between Parent Perceptions of the Neighborhood and Physical Activity in Children?

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 371-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey P. Durand ◽  
Genevieve F. Dunton ◽  
Donna Spruijt-Metz ◽  
Mary Ann Pentz
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Smart Growth ◽  
Parent Perceptions ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
San Bernardino County ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
General Physical ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose. To examine whether residing in a community designed to promote physical activity moderates the relationship between parent perceptions of the neighborhood and general physical activity or active commuting to school in their children. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. San Bernardino County, California. Subjects. Three hundred sixty-five families (one parent and one child in grades four through eight). Eighty-five reside in a smart growth community designed to be more conducive to physical activity. Measures. Parent perceptions assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). General child physical activity was measured using accelerometers, and active commuting was self-reported by children. Analysis. Two sets of regressions were performed: one for general physical activity, and one for active commuting. Separate models were run in the two sets for each of the 14 NEWS factors, while controlling for demographics. Results. For general physical activity, walking infrastructure, lack of cul-de-sacs, and social interaction had significant main effect associations (p ≤ .05). No factors were moderated by community. The relationships between active commuting to school and perceived crime, traffic hazards, hilliness, physical barriers, cul-de-sac connectivity, aesthetics, and walking infrastructure were significant for those in the smart growth community only (p ≤ .05). Conclusions. Living in an activity-friendly environment is associated with positive relationships between parent perceptions and active commuting behaviors in children. Future interventions should account for both the perceived neighborhood environment and available physical activity infrastructure.

scholarly journals Mediation role of residential density on the association between perceived environmental factors and active commuting to school in Brazilian adolescents

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arieli Fernandes Dias ◽  
Anelise Reis Gaya ◽  
Caroline Brand ◽  
Alex Antonio Florindo ◽  
Emilio Villa-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Residential Density ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Environmental Attributes

Abstract: The objective of this study was to verify whether residential density and connectivity between streets are mediators on the association between perceived environmental factors and active commuting to school (ACS) in Brazilian adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 1,130 adolescents (52.7% girls) aged between 14 to 20 years, from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Adolescents’ self-reported their usual mode of commuting to and from school using a questionnaire and the perceived environmental attributes by Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y). Residential density and connectivity between streets were measured by gographic information systems (GIS), within 1km road network buffers around the participant’s residential address. Regression models were fitted according to mediation analyses procedures. The results showed that residential density is a mediator on the association between ACS and perceived environmental factors, including land-use mix diversity (IE = 0.114; 95%CI: 0.130, 0.311; 32% mediation), neighborhood recreation facilities (IE = 0.064; 95%CI: 0.034, 0.105; 15% mediation), and access to services (IE = 0.045; 95%CI: 0.006, 0.104; 14% mediation). Connectivity between streets did not correlate with ACS, thus it was not tested in the mediation model. In conclusion, residential density is a mediator on the relationship between perceived environmental factors and ACS.

scholarly journals Relationship between Land Use Mix and Walking Choice in High-Density Cities: A Review of Walking in Seoul, South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Eun Yeong Seong ◽  
Nam Hwi Lee ◽  
Chang Gyu Choi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Housing Type ◽  
General Belief ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Land Use Mix ◽  
Family Housing ◽  
Mixed Land Use ◽  
Major Factors

This study confirmed the general belief of urban planners that mixed land use promotes walking in Seoul, a metropolis in East Asia, by analyzing the effect of mixed land use on the travel mode choice of housewives and unemployed people who make non-commuting trips on weekdays. Using binomial logistic regression of commuting data, it was found that the more mixed a neighborhood environment’s uses are, the more the pedestrians prefer to walk rather than drive. The nonlinear relationship between the land use mix index and the choice to walk was also confirmed. Although mixed land use in neighborhoods increased the probability of residents choosing walking over using cars, when the degree of complexity increased above a certain level, the opposite effect was observed. As the density of commercial areas increased, the probability of selecting walking increased. In addition to locational characteristics, income and housing type were also major factors affecting the choice to walk; i.e., when the residents’ neighborhood environment was controlled for higher income and living in an apartment rather than multi-family or single-family housing, they were more likely to choose driving over walking.

The Influence of Distance to School on the Associations Between Active Commuting and Physical Activity

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna Panter ◽  
Andrew Jones ◽  
Esther Van Sluijs ◽  
Simon Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young People ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Environmental Determinants ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Walking To School

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the associations between active commuting behavior, levels of physical activity and distance to school in 9–10 year old children. Participants were children (n = 1824) who took part in the SPEEDY study (Sport, Physical activity and Eating behavior: Environmental Determinants in Young people). For both boys and girls, significant positive associations were observed between walking to school and physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during weekday journey times (8–9am and 3–4pm), and the size of association also became stronger with increasing distance from school. Promotion of active commuting to school might be an important way to increase levels of physical activity in school children.

The Relationship between Convenience of Destinations and Walking Levels in Older Women

2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy C. King ◽  
Jennifer S. Brach ◽  
Steven Belle ◽  
Richard Killingsworth ◽  
Mark Fenton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽  
Neighborhood Environment ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose. To examine the relationship between physical activity and (1) convenience of destinations, measured by whether destinations (such as a park, trail, businesses, and services) are within walking distance of the home, and (2) participants' perception of the quality of their neighborhood surroundings for walking, captured with a global neighborhood “walkability” rating. Design. Cross-sectional analysis of data obtained in 1999. Setting. Community in southwest Pennsylvania. Subjects. Older Caucasian women (n = 149, mean age = 74.2 years). Response rate = 79%. Measures. Walking levels, leisure-time physical activity, and features of the neighborhood environment were measured with interviewer-administered questionnaires. Physical activity was also measured objectively with a pedometer. Results. Living within walking distance (defined as within a 20-minute walk of home) of a park; biking or walking trail; or department, discount, or hardware store was related to higher pedometer readings ( p < .01). In addition, there was a positive trend between the sum of destinations within walking distance of home and activity levels measured by pedometer and questionnaire ( p < .01). There was also a positive trend between participants' neighborhood “walkability” rating and activity levels measured by pedometer and questionnaire ( p < .01). Conclusion. These findings suggest that the ability to make utilitarian walking trips from home and the perception of having favorable neighborhood surroundings for walking are associated with increased physical activity levels in older women.

Neighborhood Built Environment and Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Active Commuting to School in Children

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 761-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Molina-García ◽  
Ana Queralt
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Active Commuting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Active Commuting To School ◽  
Children's Home ◽  
Neighborhood Built Environment

Background:The role of neighborhood type in active commuting to school (ACS) has not been extensively studied in children. The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between neighborhood built environment (walkability) and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) with ACS among children.Methods:A cross-sectional study of 310 Spanish children (aged 10–12 y; 51% male) was conducted in 2015. Walkability was defined as an index of 3 built environment characteristics (ie, residential density, land-use mix, and street connectivity) based on geographical information system data. Children’s home and school neighborhoods were evaluated. ACS was evaluated by questionnaire. Mixed model regression analyses evaluated ACS in relation to neighborhood walkability and SES.Results:There were no significant SES–walkability interactions for ACS. Children living in more walkable neighborhoods reported 2.5 more trips per week compared with those living in less walkable neighborhoods (P < .001). Children attending schools located in lower SES neighborhoods reported more ACS trips per week than those attending schools in higher SES neighborhoods (P < .05).Conclusions:Home-neighborhood walkability and school-neighborhood SES were associated with ACS. This study highlights the importance of assessing children’s home environment and school environment when ACS behavior is analyzed.

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