title: Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention.
abstract: Outdoor recreation areas (ORA) are important resources for physical activity (PA) and health promotion. While past research has identified correlates of ORA use, few studies have examined predictors of longitudinal changes in park- and trail-based PA in community settings. Using data from a 6-month community-based walking intervention study, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of PA in ORAs. Data were collected from baseline and 6-month assessments from participants (n=295) in a group walking intervention in South Carolina; participants enrolled from January 2012-May 2013. A decomposition scheme was used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of average group ORA use for PA, including social support, self-efficacy for PA, perceptions of neighborhood environment, and accelerometer-based PA, adjusting for gender. On average, participants were 49.4+13.3years old, 66.1% were Black, and the majority were women. There was a mean increase in group ORA use of 2.1+0.4days/month from baseline to 6months. Cross-sectionally, higher levels of the percentage of time in MVPA, self-efficacy, and social support were associated with greater group-average ORA use. Longitudinally, increased social support from friends and rating of lighter motorized traffic were associated with increased group ORA use. Additionally, longitudinal increases in percentage of MVPA and more favorable rating of the neighborhood as a place to walk were both associated with decreased group ORA use. Better understanding how social and physical environmental characteristics impact ORA use for PA can lead to more effective intervention strategies and warrants greater attention in future research and public health promotion efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Electronic address: schoffmd@email.sc.edu.
authors.forename: Danielle E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schoffman
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kaczynski
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Melinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forthofer
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA; Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilcox
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hutto
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Child
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: S Morgan
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hughey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking
keywords: built environment; outdoor recreation area; parks; physical activity