title: Initiating and maintaining recreational walking: a longitudinal study on the influence of neighborhood green space.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined prospective relationships of green space attributes with adults initiating or maintaining recreational walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal surveys were completed by 1036 adults living in Adelaide, Australia, at baseline (two time points in 2003-04) and follow-up (2007-08). Initiating or maintaining recreational walking was determined using self-reported walking frequency. Green space attributes examined were perceived presence, quality, proximity, and the objectively measured area (total and largest) and number of green spaces within a 1.6 km buffer drawn from the center of each study neighborhood. Multilevel regression analyses examined the odds of initiating or maintaining walking separately for each green space attribute.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, participants were categorized into non-regular (n = 395), regular (n = 286), and irregular walkers (n = 313). Among non-regular walkers, 30% had initiated walking, while 70% of regular walkers had maintained walking at follow-up. No green space attributes were associated with initiating walking. However, positive perceptions of the presence of and proximity to green spaces and the total and largest areas of green space were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of walking maintenance over four years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neighborhood green spaces may not assist adults to initiate walking, but their presence and proximity may facilitate them to maintain recreational walking over time.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Epidemiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia. takemi.sugiyama@bakeridi.edu.au
authors.forename: Takemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giles-Corti
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.forename: Lorinne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: du Toit
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Neville
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Behavior change; Environment; Open space; Physical activity