title: What neighborhood area captures built environment features related to adolescent physical activity?
abstract: In research investigating built environment (BE) influences on physical activity (PA), inconsistent neighborhood definitions may contribute to inconsistent findings. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Wave I; 1994-95), we compared associations between moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) and PA facility counts and street connectivity measures (intersection density and link:node ratio) within 1, 3, 5, and 8.05 km of each respondent's residence (Euclidean neighborhood buffers). BE-MVPA associations varied by BE characteristic, urbanicity, and sex. PA facilities within 3 km buffers and intersection density within 1 km buffers exhibited the most consistent associations with MVPA. Policy recommendations and corresponding research should address potential differences in relevant neighborhood areas across environment feature and population subgroup.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516-3997, USA.
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boone-Heinonen
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Popkin
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gordon-Larsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States