title: Spatial analysis of crime incidence and adolescent physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adolescents do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Crime is believed to be a barrier to physical activity among youth, but findings are inconsistent. This study compares the spatial distribution of crime incidences and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents in Massachusetts between 2011 and 2012, and examines the correlation between crime and MVPA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty adolescents provided objective physical activity (accelerometer) and location (Global Positioning Systems) data. Crime report data were obtained from the city police department. Data were mapped using geographic information systems, and crime and MVPA densities were calculated using kernel density estimations. Spearman's correlation tested for associations between crime and MVPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1694 reported crimes and 16,702min of MVPA were included in analyses. A strong positive correlation was present between crime and adolescent MVPA (ρ=0.72, p<0.0001). Crime remained positively associated with MVPA in locations falling within the lowest quartile (ρ=0.43, p<0.0001) and highest quartile (ρ=0.32, p<0.0001) of crime density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found a strong positive association between crime and adolescent MVPA, despite research suggesting the opposite relationship. This counterintuitive finding may be explained by the logic of a common destination: neighborhood spaces which are desirable destinations and promote physical activity may likewise attract crime.
authors.affiliation: General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: arobinson13@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Alyssa I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Center for Geographic Analysis, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States. Electronic address: fmeng@cga.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Carnes
authors.affiliation: General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: noreskovic@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Nicolas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Oreskovic
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003415:Crime / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012449:Safety; D062206:Spatial Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Adolescents; Crime; GIS; Physical activity; Youth
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