Environmental influences on physical activity levels in youth.
This study assessed the amount of physical activity engaged in by youth aged 11-13, in relation to: (1) the presence of neighborhood recreational opportunities, objectively measured within a geographic information system; and (2) parents' perceptions of recreation opportunities in their neighborhoods. Students in grade 7 and 8 (n=811) in 21 elementary schools throughout London, Ontario completed the adapted Previous Day Physical Activity Recall and a questionnaire assessing environmental influences in the home and school neighborhoods. Parents/guardians of participants also completed a questionnaire eliciting demographic information and perceptions of the neighborhood environment. On average, students engaged in 159.9 min/day of physical activity. Both subjective and objective measures of recreational opportunities were associated positively with physical activity (p<0.05). Greater access to recreational opportunities seem essential to facilitate youths' healthy levels of physical activity.
Tucker
Patricia
P
Faculty of Health Sciences, Rm. 222, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5B9. patucker@uwo.ca
Irwin
Jennifer D
JD
Gilliland
Jason
J
He
Meizi
M
Larsen
Kristian
K
Hess
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires