Locations of Physical Activity: Where Are Children, Adolescents, and Adults Physically Active? A Systematic Review

Anne Kelso, Anne K Reimers, Karim Abu-Omar, Kathrin Wunsch, Claudia Niessner, Hagen Wäsche and Yolanda Demetriou
Additional contact information
Anne Kelso: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 62, 80992 Munich, Germany
Anne K Reimers: Department of Sport Science and Sport, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Gebbertstrasse 123b, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Karim Abu-Omar: Department of Sport Science and Sport, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Gebbertstrasse 123b, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Kathrin Wunsch: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Claudia Niessner: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Hagen Wäsche: Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Yolanda Demetriou: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Georg-Brauchle-Ring 62, 80992 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-35

Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to examine where physical activity (PA) takes place and how much time children, adolescents and adults spend being physically active within the identified locations. A systematic literature search was carried out in five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, PsycInfo, Scopus). For inclusion, primary studies had to identify locations of PA using device-based or self-report tools, whereas minutes of PA had to be examined using device-based tools only. Thirty-two studies were included, methodological quality and sex/gender sensitivity of the studies were assessed. The narrative data synthesis revealed that the highest average amount of daily moderate-to-vigorous PA was found in home and recreational locations, followed by school and neighborhood locations. In adults, highest average amount of daily moderate-to-vigorous PA was found in neighborhood and home locations followed by workplace and recreational locations. The majority of studies had a low risk of bias in four out of six domains; eight studies reported significant sex/gender differences in location-based PA. The results indicate that different locations are used for PA to a varying degree across the lifespan. Future research on the promotion of PA should focus on location-specific design features that encourage children, adolescents and adults to be physically active.

Keywords: behavior setting; environment; places; exercise; sedentary time; GPS; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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