title: Park-based physical activity among children and adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Availability of parks is associated with higher levels of physical activity among children and adolescents. Few studies examine actual park use and park-based physical activity in these populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined associations among individual, park, and neighborhood environmental characteristics and children's and adolescent's park-based physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in 2007 on 2712 children in 20 randomly selected parks in Durham NC. The System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) provided measures of physical activity. Hierarchic regression analysis assessed associations among individual, park, and neighborhood environmental characteristics and children's park-based physical activity. Data were analyzed in 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 2712 children observed, 34.2% and 13.2% were engaged in walking or vigorous physical activity. Environmental features of parks were associated with activity levels whereas neighborhood characteristics were not. Physical activity was negatively associated with gender (girls) (p=0.003); presence of a parent (p<0.0001); presence of nonparental adult (p=0.006); and an interaction involving the 0-5 years age group and style of play (p=0.017). Higher level of physical activity was associated with presence of other active children (p<0.0001); courts (e.g., basketball); and an interaction between number of recreation facilities and formal activities (p=0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These social factors and design features should be considered in order to stimulate higher levels of park-based physical activity among children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Raleigh NC 27695-8004, USA. mffloyd@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Myron F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bocarro
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Perver K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Robin C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nilda G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Cosco
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Suau
authors.forename: Kunsheng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011998:Recreation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors