A Study of Perceived Nature, Shade and Trees and Self-Reported Physical Activity in Denver

Sara Tabatabaie, Jill S. Litt and Amanda Carrico
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Sara Tabatabaie: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Jill S. Litt: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Amanda Carrico: Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: (1) Background: Current evidence on the association between greenery and physical activity (PA) remains inconsistent. Most studies on this association use objective measures of greenness, which do not reveal people’s perceptions of greenness in neighborhoods, or the role of quality components of greenness, such as shade, trees, and the presence of nature on this association. (2) Methods: Drawing on data from the Neighborhood Environment and Health Survey—a cross-sectional population-based survey of Denver residents in 2007—we examined which measures of greenness (perceived and objective) correlated with the self-reported PA. We also assessed how components of perceived greenness, shade, trees and the presence of nature, correlated with PA. (3) Results: Perceived greenness, reflecting perception of trees, shade and the presence of nature, was positively associated with reported moderate–vigorous PA. Conclusion: Findings provide evidence that quality aspects of greenness affect people’s perception of the neighborhood in a way that relates to PA. The individual contributions of shade, trees, and the presence of nature in this association should be analyzed in future studies. Understanding the link between shade and trees and PA has implications for how to plan for walkability and sun safety at the neighborhood scale.

Keywords: physical activity; perceived greenness; shade; trees; objective greenness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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