Parental Perceptions of the Social Environment Are Inversely Related to Constraint of Adolescents’ Neighborhood Physical Activity

Maura Kepper, Stephanie Broyles, Richard Scribner, Tung-Sung Tseng, Jovanny Zabaleta, Lauren Griffiths and Melinda Sothern
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Maura Kepper: Contextual Risk Factors Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
Stephanie Broyles: Contextual Risk Factors Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 6400 Perkins Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
Richard Scribner: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Tung-Sung Tseng: Behavioral & Community Health Sciences Department, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Jovanny Zabaleta: Behavioral & Community Health Sciences Department, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Lauren Griffiths: Behavioral & Community Health Sciences Department, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Melinda Sothern: Behavioral & Community Health Sciences Department, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-19

Abstract: Background: The current study examined relationships between the neighborhood social environment (parental perceived collective efficacy (PCE)), constrained behaviors (e.g., avoidance or defensive behaviors) and adolescent offspring neighborhood physical activity in low- versus high-incivility neighborhoods. Methods: Adolescents ( n = 71; 11–18 years (14.2, SD ± 1.6); male = 37 (52%); non-white = 24 (33.8%); low-income = 20 (29%); overweight/obese = 40 (56%)) and their parents/guardians enrolled in the Molecular and Social Determinants of Obesity in Developing Youth study were included in the current study. Questionnaires measured parents’/guardians’ PCE, constrained outdoor play practices and offspring neighborhood physical activity. Systematic social observation performed at the parcel-level using Google Street View assessed neighborhood incivilities. t -tests and chi-square tests determined differences by incivilities. Multilevel regression models examined relationships between PCE and: (1) constrained behaviors; and (2) neighborhood physical activity. The Hayes (2013) macro determined the mediating role of constrained behaviors. Results: Parents who had higher PCE reported lower levels of avoidance ( p = 0.04) and defensive ( p = 0.05) behaviors. However, demographic variables (i.e., gender, race and annual household income) limited these results. The direct relationship between PCE and parent-reported neighborhood physical activity was statistically significant in high-incivility neighborhoods only. Neither avoidance nor defensive behavior mediated the relationship between PCE and neighborhood physical activity. Conclusions: PCE influences parenting behaviors related to youth physical activity. Community-based programs that seek to facilitate social cohesion and control may be needed to increase adolescents’ physical activity.

Keywords: social environment; adolescent outdoor play; parenting behaviors; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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