The environment and urban adolescents' use of recreational facilities for physical activity: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
Investigate environmental factors influencing the use of recreational facilities for physical activity by urban African-American adolescents.


METHODS
Qualitative in-depth interviews and direct observation.


METHODS
Two public high schools and 24 public recreational facilities in Baltimore, Maryland.


METHODS
Forty-eight African-American adolescents aged 14 to 18 years.


METHODS
Data from 48 in-depth interviews and 26 observations were coded using NVivo software and analyzed using the constant comparative method.


RESULTS
Facility use is influenced by characteristics of the physical, social, organizational, and economic environments. Adolescents are attracted to low-cost, well-maintained facilities that offer preferred activities and that are within close proximity to home. Adolescents with limited access to facilities use alternative play spaces, like the streets or vacant lots, where they risk injury from falling or being hit by a car. They are drawn to facilities where they find active adolescents, and they avoid those where young people are engaged in drug or gang activity. Concerns about facility safety largely determine use, particularly for adolescent girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous research points to the importance of increasing facility availability as a means of promoting physical activity, particularly in minority communities in which availability is disproportionately limited. This study shows that, while availability is important, additional facility characteristics should be considered when using environmental change to promote facility use for physical activity.
Ries
Amy V
AV
Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School, Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Coro West, Suite 500, 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. aries@lifespan.org
Gittelsohn
Joel
J
Voorhees
Carolyn C
CC
Roche
Kathleen M
KM
Clifton
Kelly J
KJ
Astone
Nan M
NM
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011998:Recreation; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data