Home and Neighborhood Physical Activity Location Availability among African American Adolescent Girls Living in Low-Income, Urban Communities: Associations with Objectively Measured Physical Activity

Ann Pulling Kuhn, Alexandra Cockerham, Nicole O’Reilly, Jacob Bustad, Victor Miranda, Tatiana V. Loboda, Maureen M. Black and Erin R. Hager
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Ann Pulling Kuhn: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Alexandra Cockerham: Cartographic Products and Services Branch, U.S. Census Bureau, Suitland, MD 20746, USA
Nicole O’Reilly: School of Social Work, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725, USA
Jacob Bustad: Department of Kinesiology, Towson University, Towson, MD 21204, USA
Victor Miranda: Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA
Tatiana V. Loboda: Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 21043, USA
Maureen M. Black: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Erin R. Hager: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Based on the ecological model of active living, the neighborhood environment may relate to individual physical activity (PA) behaviors. The purposes of this study were to (1) generate a replicable neighborhood-level physical activity location availability score (PALAS) from data variables associated with physical activity among adolescents and adults, and apply this score to Baltimore City, Maryland, and (2) determine if relationships exist between PA and PA location availability. Geographic information systems (GISs) were used to create the PALAS. Using linear regression models, we examined relations between objectively measured PA among low-income, urban, predominantly African American adolescent girls ( n = 555, 2009–2012 data collection), and the PALAS rating of their neighborhood environment (neighborhood PALAS) and their home neighborhood area (PALAS variables/subcomponents within 0.25 miles of the home). A PALAS map of the study area was created, illustrating neighborhoods varying in availability and variety of PA locations. After adjusting for confounders, a higher neighborhood PALAS (? = 0.10, p = 0.041) and the presence of a recreation center in the home neighborhood area (? = 0.46, p = 0.011) were associated with more minutes per day spent in moderate to vigorous PA. Policy makers and stakeholders should consider increasing access to PA locations as a strategy to promote PA among adolescent girls.

Keywords: geographic information systems (GISs); physical activity; accelerometer; African American; adolescents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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