Youth physical activity and the neighbourhood environment: Examining correlates and the role of neighbourhood definition

Josh van Loon, Lawrence D. Frank, Lindsay Nettlefold and Patti-Jean Naylor

Social Science & Medicine, 2014, vol. 104, issue C, 107-115

Abstract: The primary objective of this study was to examine relationships between neighbourhood built and social environment characteristics and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a sample of children aged 8–11 in Vancouver, British Columbia and the surrounding lower mainland region (n = 366). A secondary objective was to assess how neighbourhood definition influences these relationships, by using measures calculated at multiple buffer sizes: 200, 400, 800 and 1600 m (1 mile). Geographic information systems -software was used to create a broad set of measures of neighbourhood environments. Physical activity was measured objectively using accelerometers. Relationships between MVPA and neighborhood characteristics were assessed using generalized estimating equations to account for the clustering of children within schools. Sex specific relationships were assessed through sex stratified models.

Keywords: Children; Physical activity; Built environment; Social environment; Neighbourhood definition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:104:y:2014:i:c:p:107-115

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.12.013

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