title: Physical activity and perceived insecurity from crime in adults: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to describe the perception of safety from crime in the neighborhood and to evaluate its association with leisure-time and transport-related physical activity in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional population based study was conducted in the urban area of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2012. Perceived insecurity from crime in the neighborhood was measured using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and the City Stress Inventory (CSI). Physical activity was measured using an adapted version of the leisure and transportation sections of the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 52.3% (95%CI49.0; 55.6) of the participants reported perceived exposure to an unsafe neighborhood. Subjects who practiced 150 or more minutes per week of physical activity during leisure-time and transportation were 10.5% (95%CI9.0; 12.0) and 51.7% (95%CI 48.7; 54.7), respectively. There were no significant associations between physical activity (leisure-time or transport-related) and perceived insecurity from crime, neither in unadjusted nor in adjusted analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no evidence that the perception of safety from crime is associated to higher physical activity levels among Brazilian adults.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcio de Almeida
authors.initials: Mde A
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Inácio Crochemore Mohnsam da
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Curi
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hallal
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tomasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003415:Crime; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014186:Transportation; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult