BACKGROUND: The availability of places to engage in physical activity may influence physical activity levels. This study examined whether the relationship between physical activity and access to parks differs depending on adolescents' sociodemographic, housing, and neighborhood characteristics. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 4010 adolescents who responded to the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Analyses were conducted in 2005-2006. Five sets of logistic regressions were conducted to examine the relationship between physical activity and access to a safe park among adolescents living in (1) urban versus rural areas; (2) apartment buildings versus houses, (3) neighborhoods perceived as unsafe versus safe; (4) lower- versus higher-income families; and (5) adolescents who were Latino, African American, Asian, or white. Analyses also examined interactions between park access and these factors. RESULTS: Access to a safe park was positively associated with regular physical activity and negatively associated with inactivity for adolescents in urban areas, but not rural areas. Additionally, adolescents with access to a safe park were less likely to be inactive than those without access among those living in (1) apartment buildings, (2) unsafe neighborhoods, and (3) lower-income families. Park access was not associated with regular physical activity for these groups. The association between park access and physical activity varied by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the relationship between physical activity and access to parks differs depending on adolescents' sociodemographic, housing, and neighborhood characteristics, and that parks may be particularly important for promoting physical activity among urban adolescents.
BACKGROUND: The availability of places to engage in physical activity may influence physical activity levels. This study examined whether the relationship between physical activity and access to parks differs depending on adolescents' sociodemographic, housing, and neighborhood characteristics. METHODS: Data were analyzed from 4010 adolescents who responded to the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Analyses were conducted in 2005-2006. Five sets of logistic regressions were conducted to examine the relationship between physical activity and access to a safe park among adolescents living in (1) urban versus rural areas; (2) apartment buildings versus houses, (3) neighborhoods perceived as unsafe versus safe; (4) lower- versus higher-income families; and (5) adolescents who were Latino, African American, Asian, or white. Analyses also examined interactions between park access and these factors. RESULTS: Access to a safe park was positively associated with regular physical activity and negatively associated with inactivity for adolescents in urban areas, but not rural areas. Additionally, adolescents with access to a safe park were less likely to be inactive than those without access among those living in (1) apartment buildings, (2) unsafe neighborhoods, and (3) lower-income families. Park access was not associated with regular physical activity for these groups. The association between park access and physical activity varied by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the relationship between physical activity and access to parks differs depending on adolescents' sociodemographic, housing, and neighborhood characteristics, and that parks may be particularly important for promoting physical activity among urban adolescents.
Authors: Deborah R Young; John O Spengler; Natasha Frost; Kelly R Evenson; Jeffrey M Vincent; Laurie Whitsel Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2013-10-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Roshan Bastani; Beth A Glenn; Vicky M Taylor; Moon S Chen; Tung T Nguyen; Susan L Stewart; Annette E Maxwell Journal: Prev Med Date: 2009-08-27 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Genevieve Fridlund Dunton; Estela Almanza; Michael Jerrett; Jennifer Wolch; Mary Ann Pentz Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2014-02 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Nuno Loureiro; Margarida G Matos; Maria M Santos; Jorge Mota; José A Diniz Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2010-05-05 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: Andrew Rundle; James Quinn; Gina Lovasi; Michael D M Bader; Paulette Yousefzadeh; Christopher Weiss; Kathryn Neckerman Journal: Am J Health Promot Date: 2013 Mar-Apr
Authors: Rowan Brockman; Russell Jago; Kenneth R Fox; Janice L Thompson; Kim Cartwright; Angie S Page Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-07-21 Impact factor: 3.295