Examining the Associations between Walk Score, Perceived Built Environment, and Physical Activity Behaviors among Women Participating in a Community-Randomized Lifestyle Change Intervention Trial: Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities

Brian K. Lo, Meredith L. Graham, Sara C. Folta, Lynn C. Paul, David Strogatz, Miriam E. Nelson, Stephen A. Parry, Michelle E. Carfagno, David Wing, Michael Higgins and Rebecca A. Seguin
Additional contact information
Brian K. Lo: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Meredith L. Graham: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Sara C. Folta: Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
Lynn C. Paul: College of Education, Health and Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
David Strogatz: Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, NY 13326, USA
Miriam E. Nelson: Hampshire College, Amherst, MA 01002, USA
Stephen A. Parry: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Michelle E. Carfagno: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
David Wing: Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
Michael Higgins: Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
Rebecca A. Seguin: Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Little is known about the relationship between perceived and objective measures of the built environment and physical activity behavior among rural populations. Within the context of a lifestyle-change intervention trial for rural women, Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities (SHHC), we examined: (1) if Walk Score (WS), an objective built environment measure, was associated with perceived built environment (PBE); (2) if WS and PBE were associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); and (3) if MVPA changes were modified by WS and/or PBE. Accelerometers and questionnaires were used to collect MVPA and PBE. Bivariate analyses and linear mixed models were used for statistical analyses. We found that WS was positively associated with perceived proximity to destinations ( p < 0.001) and street shoulder availability ( p = 0.001). MVPA was generally not associated with WS or PBE. Compared to controls, intervention group participants increased MVPA if they lived in communities with the lowest WS (WS = 0), fewer perceived walkable destinations, or extremely safe perceived traffic (all p < 0.05). Findings suggest that WS appears to be a relevant indicator of walkable amenities in rural towns; results also suggest that the SHHC intervention likely helped rural women with the greatest dearth of built environment assets to improve MVPA.

Keywords: built environment; physical activity; Walk Score; obesity; rural health; intervention (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 (2)

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