title: Does proximity to physical activity infrastructures predict maintenance of organized and unorganized physical activities in youth?
abstract: Physical activity (PA) infrastructures can provide youth chances to engage in PA. As determinants of organized and unorganized PA (OPA and UPA) may differ, we investigated if proximity to PA infrastructures (proximity) was associated with maintenance of OPA and UPA over 3 years. Youth from New Brunswick, Canada (n = 187; 10-12 years at baseline) reported participation in OPA and UPA every 4 months from 2011 to 2014 as part of the MATCH study. Proximity data were drawn from parent's questionnaires. Proximity scores were divided into tertiles. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between proximity and maintenance of OPA and UPA. There were no crude or adjusted differences in average maintenance of participation in OPA [mean number of survey cycle participation (95%CI) was 6.6 (5.7-7.5), 6.3 (5.5-7.1), and 5.8 (5.1-6.6)] or UPA [6.8 (6.2-7.4), 5.9 (5.3-6.5), and 6.6 (5.9-7.3)] across low, moderate, and high tertiles of proximity, respectively. Findings suggest that proximity does not affect maintenance of participation in OPA or UPA during adolescence. Other environmental aspects may have a greater effect. Further research is needed before conclusions can be made.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: MacKenzie
authors: School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 125 University Pr., Montpetit Hall 339, Ottawa, ON K1N 6 N5, Canada.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Brunet
authors: Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada.
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Boudreau
authors: École de kinésiologie et du loisir, Faculté des sciences de la santé et des services communautaire, Université de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada.
authors: Horia-Daniel
authors: HD
authors: Iancu
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada; Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada; Dr George L. Dumont University Hospital Centre, Vitalité Health Network, 330 Université Avenue, Moncton, NB E1C 2Z3, Canada.
authors: Mathieu
authors: M
authors: Bélanger
keywords: Adolescents; Organized physical activity; Physical environment; Recreational infrastructures; Unorganized physical activity