scholarly journals Schoolyard Affordances for Physical Activity: A Pilot Study in 6 Nordic–Baltic Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 11640
Author(s):  
Renata Rutkauskaite ◽  
Thordis Gisladottir ◽  
Maret Pihu ◽  
Lise Kjonniksen ◽  
Irinja Lounassalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Nordic Countries ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Sparse Vegetation ◽  
Baltic Countries ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Football Field ◽  
Schoolyard Design

Environmental settings influence children’s and adolescents’ physical activity (PA) in neighborhoods and schoolyards. This study aimed to explore the main characteristics of schoolyards in six Nordic–Baltic countries, to document how those facilities provide affordances for PA in 7–18 year–old schoolchildren, and how the schoolyard meets children’s preferences. One schoolyard was studied in each included country: Iceland, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The affordances, facilities, and equipment for PA in schoolyards were identified through orthophoto maps and standard registration forms. Children’s preferences were collected through group interviews at each participating school. A common design of schoolyards across countries indicated mostly flat topography with sparse vegetation and green areas dominated by large traditional sport arenas such as a football field, areas suitable for ball games, and track and field activities. Green spaces and varied topography were more prominent in Nordic countries. Across nationalities, the responses from pupils regarding the schoolyard were similar: they liked it though they wished for more variety of activities to do during recess. National regulations/recommendations for schoolyard design differed across the countries, being more restricted to sport fields and sport-related activities in Latvia and Lithuania, while in Nordic countries, the recommendations focused more on versatile schoolyard design.

Diversity in teachers’ approaches to movement integration: A qualitative study of lower secondary school teachers’ perceptions of a state school reform involving daily physical activity

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-447
Author(s):  
Henrik Taarsted Jørgensen ◽  
Sine Agergaard ◽  
Michalis Stylianou ◽  
Jens Troelsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
School Reform ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Physical Activity Policy ◽  
Danish School ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Movement Integration

In the context of implementing a physical activity policy as part of a national school reform in Denmark, the purpose of this study was to explore lower secondary teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of the physical activity policy with a focus on movement integration. In total, 14 teachers from four different schools were selected to take part in this qualitative study, which involved semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, go-along observations and informal interviews. A thematic analysis framework was employed to identify and describe patterns of meaning within data. The findings showed substantial diversity among teachers’ interpretations and perceptions of movement integration, and consequently a lack of definitional clarity regarding movement integration and a possible misalignment between policy and practice. Teachers’ perceptions and interpretations of movement integration were influenced by other and more prioritised policies and discourses regarding academic achievement, as well as by intrapersonal, interpersonal and institutional factors. The findings also suggested a lack of support and collaboration within the school and provided insights into the strengths and weaknesses associated with the autonomy afforded in the Danish school reform.

scholarly journals The Socioeconomic Welfare of Urban Green Areas and Parks; A Literature Review of Available Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7863
Author(s):  
Antonios Kolimenakis ◽  
Alexandra D. Solomou ◽  
Nikolaos Proutsos ◽  
Evangelia V. Avramidou ◽  
Evangelia Korakaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Exclusion Criteria ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

Urban green areas present a lucid example for the harmonious co-existence of the artificial and natural environments best illustrated by their interdependence and interconnection in urban spaces. Urban green areas are essential for the health and wellbeing of citizens. The present study aimed to investigate those multiple benefits for citizens that arise through the existence of urban green areas, as well as important policy dimensions that should be considered when designing the expansion of urban green spaces in urban development. The study was based on a literature review to examine for available evidence on the benefit levels derived by the existence of urban green areas. An extended literature review was followed by a structured review, based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, which partly followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted in two databases, and a total of 1674 articles and abstracts were identified through the database searches. After removing 114 duplicates, 1560 records were initially screened based on title and abstract. Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 articles were incorporated in the structured review and a total of 47 in the extended review. The extended literature review identified 33 additional articles examining aspects of benefits that did not fall under the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria used in the structured review, such as health benefits and other social parameters associated with urban green spaces. The selected studies were allocated in five principal groups according to study types: three of the them consisted of studies employing “willingness to pay” (WTP) methods, five were based on property values, two studies assigned monetary values, while another two assigned CO2 values, and, finally, two studies were based on qualitative criteria. The results indicated benefits to citizens and increased welfare levels gained by the existence of urban green areas. The conducted review revealed a number of findings and recommendations that could direct future research and urban policy. Those hints could assist local authorities as well as stakeholders in order to measure and assess the benefits of green spaces and urban parks and promote measures and programs to assist their further deployment.

scholarly journals Urbanization and greenness in HBSC survey: association with overweight and obesity in adolescents

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Bellisario ◽  
R Bono ◽  
G Squillacioti ◽  
M Caputo ◽  
I Gintoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Children Health ◽  
Public Health Strategies

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is an important public health issue worldwide and includes different risk factors, such as environmental pollutants exposure or physical activity. Neighborhood composition and green spaces availability could contrast obesogenic lifestyles and promote healthy habits, whereas, urbanization and traffic volume exposure are inversely associated with physical activity and worsen effects on childhood health. Methods This project analyzed students involved in the HBSC survey from the Piedmont Region. Data were collected in 2018, following the protocol. All the subjects were georeferenced within buffers around schools. Green-spaces availability was measured by Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI-satellite images) while urbanization was calculated by population density, traffic intensity (satellite measurements) and air pollution concentration (sampling stations). Results Overall, the sample included 3022 subjects, with amount 50% male/female and 30% for each age group (11-13-15 years old). Concerning weight status, above 14% of the all sample is obese or overweight, with, respectively, 20% among boys and 11% among girls. Preliminary analyses showed an association between weight status and population density (rural vs urbanized areas). Currently, we are analyzing the association with greenness and the other measures of urbanization. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that high urbanization levels impact health implementing weight in children. We are testing the hypothesis that greenness positively influences weight status and reduce negative effects of urbanization and air pollution. The managing of these risk factors must be deepened and corroborated by active preventive Public Health strategies for improving children health. Key messages Urbanization and greenness may influence weight status in children. Public Health strategies must be improved for children health.

Quality of urban green spaces influences residents’ use of these spaces, physical activity, and overweight/obesity

2021 ◽  
Vol 271 ◽  
pp. 116393
Author(s):  
Pablo Knobel ◽  
Roser Maneja ◽  
Xavier Bartoll ◽  
Lucia Alonso ◽  
Mariska Bauwelinck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Challenges of being new to Canada: considerations for physical activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley D. Curtin ◽  
Christina C. Loitz ◽  
Nancy Spencer-Cavaliere ◽  
Ernest Nene Khalema
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Qualitative Descriptive ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Multicultural Health

Immigrants to Canada are less likely to be physically active compared with non-immigrants, and the interrelations between personal and environmental factors that influence physical activity for immigrants are largely unexplored. The goal of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand how the experience of being new to Canada impacts opportunities and participation in physical activity. Two focus group interviews with immigrants to Canada were conducted. The first group ( n=7) included multicultural health brokers. The second group ( n=14) included English as a second language students. Qualitative content analysis was used to determine three themes consistent with the research question: transition to Canadian life, commitments and priorities, and accessibility. Discussion was framed using a social ecological model. Implications for practice and policy are suggested including enhanced community engagement, and organizational modifications. Overall, the development and implementation of physical activity policies and practices for newcomers to Canada should be centered on newcomers’ perspectives and experiences.

Vicinity of Schools, But Not of Residences, Seems to Regulate Physical and Sports Activities of 13-Year-Old Teenagers in a South European Setting

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Magalhães ◽  
Elisabete Ramos ◽  
Maria Fátima Pina
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Sports Participation ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Sports Activities

Background:Proximity to urban green spaces (UGS) and open sports spaces (OSS) benefits health, promotes physical activity (PA) and sports practice (SP).Objective:Analyze the association between PA or SP according to distances between UGS or OSS and teenagers’ residences or schools.Methods:We evaluated 1333 (53.9% girls) teenagers (13 years old) living and studying in Porto, Portugal (EPITeen cohort). PA was classified as light or moderate/vigorous. Distances were the shortest routes from residences or schools to UGS/OSS, and classified in ≤250 m; >250 m to ≤500 m; >500 m to ≤750 m; >750 m. Chi-square test and chi-square for trends were used to compare proportions; associations were measured using logistic regression, through odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals, adjusting to BMI and parental education.Results:Regarding vicinity’ of schools, the prevalence of moderate/vigorous PA among boys, decreases as distances to OSS increases. For girls, the prevalence of sports decreases as distances to UGS increase. For boys, we found an association between moderate/vigorous PA and proximity to OSS in the vicinity of schools: considering ≤250 m as reference, the odds of moderate/vigorous PA is 0.20 (0.06–0.63) for >250 m to ≤500 m; 0.21 (0.07–0.61) for >500 m to ≤750 m and 0.19 (0.06–0.58) for >750 m.Conclusion:Vicinities of schools seem to influence teenagers to be more physically active and increase sports participation.

scholarly journals Self-Determined Motivation Mediates the Association between Self-Reported Availability of Green Spaces for Exercising and Physical Activity: An Explorative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1312
Author(s):  
Migle Baceviciene ◽  
Rasa Jankauskiene
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
The Self ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Behavior Regulation ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Study Support ◽  
Practical Implications

The aim of the study was to test the associations between the self-reported access to exercise in green spaces (GS) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) testing the mediating role of the motivation. Based on self-determination theory (SDT), we expected that self-determined motivation will mediate the associations between the self-reported availability of GS for exercising (GSE) and MVPA with the most self-determined exercise regulation forms (identified and intrinsic motivation) demonstrating the strongest positive associations between the variables. Method: The sample consisted of 2154 participants (74.7% women). The ages ranged from 18 to 79 years, with a mean age of 32.6 (SD = 12.2) years. Participants completed the Behavior Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2, the measures of self-reported distance to residential GS (RGS), availability of the GS for exercising (GSE), and physical activity (PA). Logistic regression and path analysis were used to test the associations between study variables. Results: Higher reported distance to RGS was associated with lower reported availability of GSE, but not PA. Availability of GSE was directly associated with more frequent MVPA. More autonomous forms of exercise behavior regulation (intrinsic and identified regulations) mediated the associations between self-reported availability of GSE and MVPA. Internal and identified exercise regulations were directly associated with more frequent MVPA. Conclusions: The results of the present study support the main tenets of SDT suggesting that self-determined behavioral exercise regulation is an important mediator between the self-reported availability of GSE and general MVPA. Practical implications of these findings are discussed herein.

Opinions towards physical activity interventions using Facebook or text messaging: Focus group interviews with vocational school‐aged adolescents

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 654-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Sara D’Haese ◽  
Jolien Plaete ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Benedicte Deforche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Vocational School ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Group Interviews

scholarly journals Associations between time spent in green areas and physical activity among late middle-aged adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Dewulf ◽  
Tijs Neutens ◽  
Delfien Van Dyck ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Steven Broekx ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Positioning System ◽  
Accelerometer Data ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Physical activity is an important facilitator for health and wellbeing, especially for late middle-aged adults, who are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Physical activity performed in green areas is supposed to be particularly beneficial, so we studied whether late middle- aged adults are more active in green areas than in non-green areas and how this is influenced by individual characteristics and the level of neighbourhood greenness. We tracked 180 late middle-aged (58 to 65 years) adults using global positioning system and accelerometer data to know whether and where they were sedentary or active. These data were combined with information on land use to obtain information on the greenness of sedentary and active hotspots. We found that late middle-aged adults are more physically active when spending more time in green areas than in non-green areas. Spending more time at home and in non-green areas was found to be associated with more sedentary behaviour. Time spent in non-green areas was found to be related to more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for males and to less MVPA for females. The positive association between time spent in green areas and MVPA was the strongest for highly educated people and for those living in a green neighbourhood. This study shows that the combined use of global positioning system and accelerometer data facilitates understanding of where people are sedentary or physically active, which can help policy makers encourage activity in this age cohort.

scholarly journals As paisagens coexistenciais interespecíficas, ou sobre humanos e não-humanos compartilhando espaços domésticos numa cidade amazônica

ILUMINURAS ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (42) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Leonel Abreu da Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Urban Wildlife ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Living Space ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
The City

O artigo propõe uma discussão teórica acerca das paisagens coexistenciais interespecíficas na urbe, voltando-se especialmente à morada humana. Esta é percebida como o lugar da convivência entre humanos e não-humanos – também se considera o seu entorno, onde aparecem os quintais/pomares e os espaços verdes habitados pela fauna silvestre urbana. A coexistência interespecífica contribui para a diversidade na conformação das paisagens citadinas, sendo que as ambiências domésticas – a localidade do espaço habitado/lócus da experiência íntima – permitem a humanos e não-humanos o compartilhamento de uma vida juntos a partir de diferentes formas de interações simbólico-práticas. As áreas verdes revelam-se lugares de interações interespecíficas diversas na urbe, figurando enquanto espaços de contato. Para as reflexões que proponho realizar, parto de minha experiência de coabitação com gatos domésticos e de meu ofício de etnógrafo que pesquisa as relações entre humanos e não-humanos em uma área verde na cidade de Belém (PA) na Amazônia.Palavras-chave: Paisagens. Cidade. Habitat. Animais. Áreas verdes. Interespécies.The Coexistent and Interspecific Landscapes or About Humans and Nonhumans Sharing Domestics Places in an Amazonian City  AbstractThe paper proposes a theoretical discussion about the coexistent and interspecific landscapes at the urbis, regarding, specially, the human shelter. This is perceived as a place of coexistence between humans and nonhumans – its surroundings where there are yards/orchards and green spaces inhabited by urban wildlife is also considered. The interspecific coexistence contributes to the diversity in shaping cityscapes and the domestic ambiences - the location of the living space/locus of intimate experience - allow human and nonhuman sharing a life together, founded on different forms of symbolic and practical interactions. The green areas turn up in places of diverse and interspecific interactions at the urbis, constituting spaces of contact. Aiming at these reflections, I consider my own coexistence experience with domestic cats and my work as an ethnographer who studies the relationships between human and nonhumans in a green area in the city of Belém (PA) in Amazon.Key words: Landscapes. City. Habitat. Animals. Green areas. Interspecies.

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