title: Social and Environmental Factors Related to Boys' and Girls' Park-Based Physical Activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parks provide opportunities for physical activity for children. This study examined sex differences in correlates of park-based physical activity because differences may indicate that a standard environmental intervention to increase activity among children may not equally benefit boys and girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  The System for Observation Play and Recreation in Communities was used to measure physical activity among 2,712 children and adolescents in 20 neighborhood parks in Durham, North Carolina, in 2007. Sedentary activity, walking, vigorous park activity, and energy expenditure were the primary outcome variables. Hierarchical logit regression models of physical activity were estimated separately for boys and girls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type of activity area and presence of other active children were positively associated with boys' and girls' physical activity, and presence of a parent was negatively associated. A significant interaction involving number of recreation facilities in combination with formal activities was positively associated with girls' activity. A significant interaction involving formal park activity and young boys (aged 0-5 y) was negatively associated with park-based physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activity area and social correlates of park-based physical activity were similar for boys and girls; findings for formal park programming, age, and number of facilities were mixed. Results show that girls' physical activity was more strongly affected by social effects (eg, presence of other active children) whereas boys' physical activity was more strongly influenced by the availability of park facilities. These results can inform park planning and design. Additional studies are necessary to clarify sex differences in correlates of park-based physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, North Carolina State University, Box 8004, Biltmore Hall, Raleigh, NC 27695. Email: jnbocarro@ncsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bocarro
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Myron F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Courtney L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Perver
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Nilda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cosco
authors.affiliation: Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Suau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004779:Environment Design; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009657:North Carolina; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011998:Recreation; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology