Sports Facilities, Shopping Centers or Homes: What Locations are Important for Adults’ Physical Activity? A Cross-Sectional Study

Marijke Jansen, Dick Ettema, Frank Pierik and Martin Dijst
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Marijke Jansen: Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht 3584 CS, The Netherlands
Dick Ettema: Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht 3584 CS, The Netherlands
Frank Pierik: Department of Urban Environment and Safety, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek/Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), P.O. Box 80015, Utrecht 3508 TA, The Netherlands
Martin Dijst: Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, Utrecht 3584 CS, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: Physical activity (PA) is influenced by the built environment. However, little is known about the types of built environment where adults spend their time, and at what levels of PA they engage in those environments. Understanding the effect of the built environment on PA requires insight into PA behavior at different types of locations (e.g., home, work, shopping centers, and sports facilities). Therefore, this study describes where adults aged 45–65 years were active with moderate-to-vigorous intensity (MVPA), and examines associations of socio-demographic factors and neighborhood with MVPA at these locations. Participants’ ( N = 308) PA was measured for seven days using accelerometers and GPS-devices. Adults spent most minutes of MVPA at home and work. Highest MVPA-ratios of total time spent at a location were achieved in sports facilities and during transport. Neighborhood characteristics and socio-demographic factors such as work status, health status and household structure, had significant effects on MVPA at various locations and on total MVPA. Understanding PA behavior at various locations may provide insights that allow professionals in different domains (e.g., health, landscaping, urban planning) to develop strategies to stimulate PA.

Keywords: physical activity; global positioning system (GPS); accelerometer; activity locations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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