The Contribution of Home, Neighbourhood and School Environmental Factors in Explaining Physical Activity among Adolescents

The present study aimed at investigating the influence of home, neighbourhood and school environmental factors on adolescents' engagement in self-reported extracurricular physical activity and leisure time sports and on MVPA objectively measured by accelerometers. Environmental factors were assessed using questionnaires. Gender specific hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, with demographic variables entered in the first block, and environmental, psychosocial factors and interactions terms entered in the second block. Participation in extracurricular activities at school was positively related to the number of organized activities and the provision of supervision. Perceived accessibility of neighborhood facilities was not related to engagement in leisure time sports, whereas the availability of sedentary and physical activity equipment was. Findings were generally supportive of ecological theories stating that behaviors are influenced by personal and environmental factors that are constantly interacting.

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Gender-specific physical activity-related injuries and risk factors among university students in China: a multicentre population-based cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040865 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e040865

Author(s):

Weicong Cai ◽

Shangmin Chen ◽

Liping Li ◽

Pengying Yue ◽

Xiaofan Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Risk Factors ◽

University Students ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past ◽

Chinese University ◽

Gender Specific

ObjectivesData on the problem of physical activity-related injury (PARI) in university students and the risk factors for PARI among different genders are rare. We conducted a multicentre population-based study to investigate the occurrence of PARI and to explore the gender-specific risk factors for PARI among Chinese university students.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 5341 students in grades 1–3 at eight universities in four Chinese cities were selected to complete the online questionnaires during March and April 2017. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity PA) involvement, sleep duration, sedentary behaviour and PARI experiences in the past 12 months.Main outcome measuresPARI during the past 12 months.ResultsAmong the 5341 participants, 1293 suffered from at least one PARI in the past 12 months, with an overall incidence rate of 24.2% (males: 26.2%, females: 23.2%) and an injury risk of 0.38 injuries/student/year (males: 0.48, females: 0.32). Over half of the injured (57.3%) experienced a withdrawal time of PA and nearly two-fifths (39.6%) required medical attention. Irrespective of gender, Shantou and Xi’an students, sports team members and those who engaged in sports and leisure-time vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) at a higher frequency were more likely to suffer from PARI. Male students who participated in sports and leisure-time VPA for long durations had a greater likelihood of sustaining PARI, while having a chronic condition and being involved in sports and leisure-time moderate-intensity PA at a higher frequency and longer duration were potential contributors to PARI among females.ConclusionsThe occurrence of PARI and its risk factors differed by gender, which provides a direction towards developing targeted and effective gender-specific preventative programmes to protect Chinese university students from PARI.

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Differences in the Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and BMI of Finnish Grade 5 Students

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2018-0622 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. 765-771

Author(s):

Kasper Salin ◽

Mikko Huhtiniemi ◽

Anthony Watt ◽

Harto Hakonen ◽

Timo Jaakkola

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Fifth Grade ◽

Overweight Children ◽

Fifth Grade Students ◽

Grade 5 ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Objectively Measured Physical Activity

Background: This study examined the distribution of objectively measured physical activity (PA) and sedentary time of fifth-grade students during school, leisure time, and physical education (PE) classes. Demographic, anthropometric, and PA data were collected from 17 representative Finnish schools. Methods: To estimate the PA and sedentary time, participants (N = 592) wore wGT3X-BT ActiGraphs for 7 consecutive days. Comparisons were made between genders and different BMI groups. Results: From the study sample, 43.7% met the moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) guidelines. Participants spent 62.2% of the day sedentary and 8.2% in moderate and vigorous activities. Boys performed more MVPA than girls, and girls were more sedentary during school days. Boys had more MVPA than girls in leisure time, but there were no differences in sedentary time. However, an examination of PA assessed during PE classes revealed no differences between boys and girls. Normal-weight boys engaged in more MVPA than overweight and obese boys. No differences were found for girls. Conclusions: The PA levels differ between different BMI groups in leisure time and during school but not during PE lessons. PA for overweight children should be targeted and compulsory PE time should be increased to achieve the PA guidelines.

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How does the UK childcare energy-balance environment influence anthropometry of children aged 3–4 years? A cross-sectional exploration

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021520 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. e021520 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kathryn R Hesketh ◽

Sara E Benjamin-Neelon ◽

Esther M F van Sluijs

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Energy Balance ◽

Skinfold Thickness ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Early Childhood Obesity ◽

Family Based ◽

The Uk ◽

Objectively Measured

ObjectivesTo assess the association between time spent in care, the childcare energy-balance environment, and preschool-aged children’s body mass index z-score (z-BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHR) and sum of skinfold thickness (SST).DesignCross-sectional study.Setting and participantsChildren aged 3–4 years were recruited from 30 childcare centres in Cambridgeshire (UK) in 2013.Main outcome measuresObjectively measured height and weight was used to calculate z-BMI; waist circumference and height were used to generate WHR; subscapular and tricep skinfolds were used to calculate SST. Associations between childcare attendance, the nutrition, physical activity, and overall childcare environment, and three anthropometric outcomes were explored using two-level hierarchical regression models, adjusting for demographic and family based confounders.ResultsValid data were available for 196 children (49% female). Time spent in care, the nutrition, physical activity and overall childcare environment were not associated with children’s z-BMI, WHR and SST.ConclusionsChildcare environment and level of attendance were not associated with UK preschool-aged children’s anthropometry. The childcare environment has been central to intervention efforts to prevent/reduce early childhood obesity, yet other factors, including child-level, family level, wider environmental and policy-level factors warrant substantial attention when considering obesity prevention strategies for young children.

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Mediterranean Built Environment and Weather as Modulator Factors on Physical Activity: Cross-Sectional Study

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecehs-1-05649 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Antoni Colom ◽

Maurici Ruiz ◽

Josep Muncunill ◽

Julia Wärnberg ◽

Montserrat Compa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Additive Models ◽

Active Ageing ◽

Brisk Walking ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

The Impact

Background: When promoting physical activity practice, it is important to consider the plausible environmental determinants that may affect this practice. We aimed to explore the impact of objectively measured Public Open Spaces (POS) on objectively measured and self-reported physical activity and the influence of weather on this association, in a Mediterranean sample of senior adults with overweight or obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Method: Cross-sectional analyses based on 218 PREDIMED-Plus trial participants aged 55 to 75 years, from Palma de Mallorca (Spain). Indicators of access to POS were assessed in a 1.0 km sausage network walkable buffer around each participant’s residence address using geographic information systems. Mean daily minutes of self-reported leisure-time brisk walking, and accelerometer objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in bouts of at least 10 min (OM-MVPA) were measured. To investigate the association between access to POS and physical activity, generalized additive models with Gaussian link function were used. Results: Better access to POS was not statistically significantly associated with self-reported leisure-time brisk walking. A positive significant association was only observed between the distance of healthy routes contained or intersected by buffer and OM-MVPA. This association was only evident on non-rainy days. Conclusions: In this elderly population living in a Mediterranean city, only healthy routes contained or intersected by a 1 km sausage network walkable buffer influenced the accelerometer objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in bouts of at least 10 min and rainy conditions during the accelerometer period appeared to be an important factor related to active ageing.

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Associations of Perceived and Objectively Measured Neighborhood Environmental Attributes With Leisure-Time Sitting for Transport

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2016-0073 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 1372-1377 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Yung Liao ◽

Takemi Sugiyama ◽

Ai Shibata ◽

Kaori Ishii ◽

Shigeru Inoue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Postal Survey ◽

Sitting Time ◽

Linear Modeling ◽

Type Method ◽

Environmental Attributes ◽

Japanese Adults ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Activity Questionnaire

Background:This study examined associations of perceived and objectively measured neighborhood environmental attributes with leisure-time sitting for transport among middle-to-older aged Japanese adults.Method:Data were collected using a postal survey of 998 adults aged 40 to 69 years. Generalized linear modeling with a gamma distribution and a log link was used to examine associations of perceived (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Environmental module) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-derived built environment attributes with self-reported leisure-time sitting for transport.Results:Mean leisure-time sitting time for transport was 20.4 min/day. After adjusting for potential confounders, perceived higher residential density, GIS-measured higher population density, better access to destinations, better access to public transport, longer sidewalk length, and higher street connectivity, were associated significantly with lower sitting time for transport.Conclusion:Residents living in neighborhoods with attributes previously found to be associated with more walking tended to spend less time sitting for transport during leisure-time. The health benefits of walkability-related attributes may accrue not only through increased physical activity, but also through less sedentary time.

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Neighborhood Environment, Access to Places for Activity, and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in a Diverse North Carolina Population

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.4278/0890-1171-18.1.58 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 58-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 157

Author(s):

Sara L. Huston ◽

Kelly R. Evenson ◽

Philip Bors ◽

Ziya Gizlice

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

North Carolina ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Heavy Traffic ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Neighborhood Characteristics ◽

Cross Sectional

Purpose. To examine associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics, access to places for activity, and leisure-time physical activity. Design. Cross-sectional telephone survey. Setting. Cabarrus, Henderson, Pitt, Robeson, Surry, and Wake counties in North Carolina. Subjects. Population-based sample of 1796 adults at least 18 years of age residing in the six counties. Measures. The 133-item questionnaire assessed self-reported leisure-time physical activity and perceptions of neighborhood characteristics (sidewalks, trails, heavy traffic, streetlights, unattended dogs, and safety from crime) and general access to places for physical activity. Results. Trails, streetlights, and access to places were positively associated with engaging in any leisure activity: unadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]); 1.62 (1.09–2.41), 1.57 (1.14–2.17), and 2.94 (1.91–4.52), respectively. Trails and access to places were positively associated with engaging in the recommended amount of leisure activity: 1.49 (1.00–2.22), and 2.28 (1.30–4.00), respectively). In multivariable logistic regression modeling including environmental factors and demographics, access to places was associated with any activity (2.23 [1.44–3.44]) and recommended activity (2.15 [1.23–3.77]), and trails were associated with recommended activity (1.51 [1.00–2.28]). Conclusion. Certain neighborhood characteristics, particularly trails, and access to places for physical activity may be associated with leisure activity levels. In this study, perceived neighborhood environmental factors and access to places for physical activity were strongly associated with race, education, and income.

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