title: Subpopulation differences in the association between neighborhood urban form and neighborhood-based physical activity.
abstract: This study investigated whether associations between the neighborhood built environment and neighborhood-based physical activity (PA) varied by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics. A random sample of adults (n=2006) completed telephone- and self-administered questionnaires. Questionnaires captured PA, sociodemographic, and health-related characteristics. Neighborhood-based PA (MET-minutes/week) was compared across low, medium, and high walkable neighborhoods for each sociodemographic (sex, age, dependents, education, income, motor vehicle access, and dog ownership) and health-status (general health and weight status) subpopulation. With few exceptions, subpopulations residing in high walkable neighborhoods undertook more (p<0.05) neighborhood-based PA than their counterparts in less walkable neighborhoods. Improving neighborhood walkability is a potentially effective population health intervention for increasing neighborhood-based PA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6. Electronic address: gmccorma@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Gavin R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: The Centre of Excellence in Intervention and Prevention Science (CEIPS), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiell
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Doyle-Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6; Department of Population Health Research, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Friedenreich
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Beverly A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Sandalack
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Built environment; Neighborhood; Physical activity; Population health; Walkability