Perceptions of environmental supports on the physical activity behaviors of university men and women: a preliminary investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine perception differences between genders of university sidewalks and safety from crime on the physical activity (PA) behaviors of undergraduate students.


METHODS
Five hundred and sixty undergraduate students participated in this study.


METHODS
The authors derived questions from the South Carolina Environmental Supports for Physical Activity Questionnaire (SCESPAQ) and National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRS) PA module.


RESULTS
The authors found a significant mean difference between genders for the Moderate Intensity Item (eg, walking and biking) and the Flexibility Item, t(558)=3.602, p=.001, and t(558)=1.946, p=.050, respectively. Of participants surveyed, 30% of women perceived this campus to be extremely safe compared with 49% of men, t(558)=4.240, p=.001. Gender and the perceptions of sidewalk presence were significantly related (p<.05) to respondents' walking or bicycling patterns.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceptions of sidewalks and safety from crime on this university campus were related to students' PA behaviors.
Reed
Julian
J
Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USA. julian.reed@furman.edu
Ainsworth
Barbara
B
D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010465:Perception; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D013022:South Carolina; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data