Personal, social and environmental correlates of physical activity in adults from Curitiba, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Leisure-time physical activity is a complex behavior influenced by factors at multiple levels.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental factors and leisure-time walking (LTW) and leisure-time physical activities (LTPA), excluding walking. We also examined the moderating effect of sociodemographic characteristics on these associations.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1461 adults from Curitiba, Brazil (63.7% women). LTW and LTPA were assessed through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and a cutoff point of ≥ 150 min/week was used. Associations were examined through multilevel logistic regressions.


RESULTS
LTW was positively associated with self-efficacy, enjoyment, social support from family and friends, presence of public places for leisure and neighborhood esthetics. LTPA was associated with self-efficacy, enjoyment, social support from family and friends, safety from crime and neighborhood esthetics. Safety from crime was a predictor of LTPA among older adults only.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors at multiple levels were associated with LTW and LTPA. Interventions to promote LTPA would likely benefit from considering personal, social and environmental factors and different levels of influence.
Federal University of Santa Catarina, Department of Physical Education, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Federal University of Parana, Department of Physical Education, Curitiba, Brazil. Electronic address: crrech@hotmail.com.
Cassiano R
CR
Rech
Federal University of Parana, Department of Physical Education, Curitiba, Brazil; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, School of Health and Biosciences, Curitiba, Brazil. Electronic address: reis.rodrigo@pucpr.br.
Rodrigo S
RS
Reis
Federal University of Parana, Department of Physical Education, Curitiba, Brazil; Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, School of Health and Biosciences, Curitiba, Brazil. Electronic address: akira_manaca@yahoo.com.br.
Adriano A F
AA
Hino
Federal University of Pelotas, Department of Physical Education, Pelotas, Brazil. Electronic address: prchallal@gmail.com.
Pedro C
PC
Hallal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Adults; Leisure; Moderator; Physical activity; Social–ecological model