title: Proximity to sports facilities and sports participation for adolescents in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between proximity to specific sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities for adolescents in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11-17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. Community-level socio-demographics as covariates were selected from the INKAR database, in particular from indicators and maps on land development. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between proximity to the nearest sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The logistic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved proximity to gyms is likely to be more important for female adolescents living in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Seraphim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alvanides
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research (SEW), University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinmayr
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D009043:Motor Activity; D011633:Public Facilities; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires