A Scoping Review of Observational Studies Examining Relationships between Environmental Behaviors and Health Behaviors

Jayne Hutchinson, Stephanie L. Prady, Michaela A. Smith, Piran C. L. White and Hilary M. Graham
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Jayne Hutchinson: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK
Stephanie L. Prady: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK
Michaela A. Smith: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK
Piran C. L. White: Environment Department, University of York, Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK
Hilary M. Graham: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington York YO10 5DD, UK

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Individual lifestyles are key drivers of both environmental change and chronic disease. We undertook a scoping review of peer-reviewed studies which examined associations between environmental and health behaviors of individuals in high-income countries. We searched EconLit, Medline, BIOSIS and the Social Science Citation Index. A total of 136 studies were included. The majority were USA-based cross-sectional studies using self-reported measures. Most of the evidence related to travel behavior, particularly active travel (walking and cycling) and physical activity (92 studies) or sedentary behaviors (19 studies). Associations of public transport use with physical activity were examined in 18 studies, and with sedentary behavior in one study. Four studies examined associations between car use and physical activity. A small number included other environmental behaviors (food-related behaviors (n = 14), including organic food, locally-sourced food and plate waste) and other health behaviors ((n = 20) smoking, dietary intake, alcohol). These results suggest that research on individual environmental and health behaviors consists largely of studies examining associations between travel mode and levels of physical activity. There appears to be less research on associations between other behaviors with environmental and health impacts, and very few longitudinal studies in any domain.

Keywords: lifestyle; pro-environmental behavior; health-related behavior; active travel; public transport use; physical activity; consumption (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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