Does Community Type Moderate the Relationship between Parent Perceptions of the Neighborhood and Physical Activity in Children?

• DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.100827-quan-290
• Publication Date: 2012-06-29T21:50:34Z
• Authors: Casey P. Durand; Genevieve F. Dunton; Donna Spruijt-Metz; Mary Ann Pentz
• Keywords: Walkability; Demographics; Level design; Physical activity level

Purpose. To examine whether residing in a community designed to promote physical activity moderates the relationship between parent perceptions of neighborhood and general or active commuting school their children. Design. Cross-sectional. Setting. San Bernardino County, California. Subjects. Three hundred sixty-five families (one one child grades four through eight). Eighty-five reside smart growth be more conducive activity. Measures. Parent assessed using Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). General was measured accelerometers, self-reported by Analysis. Two sets regressions were performed: for activity, commuting. Separate models run two each 14 NEWS factors, while controlling demographics. Results. For walking infrastructure, lack cul-de-sacs, social interaction had significant main effect associations (p ≤ .05). No factors moderated community. The relationships perceived crime, traffic hazards, hilliness, barriers, cul-de-sac connectivity, aesthetics, infrastructure those only Conclusions. Living an activity-friendly environment is associated with positive behaviors Future interventions should account both available infrastructure.