title: Perceived neighborhood environmental attributes associated with adults' leisure-time physical activity: findings from Belgium, Australia and the USA.
abstract: The study purpose was to examine the strength, direction and shape of the associations of environmental perceptions with recreational walking and leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, using pooled data from four study sites (Baltimore [USA], Seattle [USA], Adelaide [Australia] and Ghent [Belgium]). Moreover, site- and gender-specificity of the associations were examined. In total, 6014 adults (20-65 years, 55.7% women) completed the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Both a 'recreational walking-friendliness' index and a 'leisure-time activity friendliness' index had a positive linear association with recreational walking and leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, respectively. The associations were significant in all study sites except Ghent. Present findings were clearly site-specific, imposing possible challenges for built environment recommendations. In Belgium, interventions to promote leisure-time activity may need to target promotion of existing opportunities rather than built environment improvements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Delfien.VanDyck@ugent.be
authors.forename: Delfien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Dyck
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardon
authors.forename: Lawrence D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Saelens
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sallis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001530:Belgium; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012449:Safety; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult