title: Can the Social Vulnerability Index Be Used for More Than Emergency Preparedness? An Examination Using Youth Physical Fitness Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), a publicly available dataset, is used in emergency preparedness to identify communities in greatest need of resources. The SVI includes multiple socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic indicators that also are associated with physical fitness and physical activity. This study examined the utility of using the SVI to explain variation in youth fitness, including aerobic capacity and body mass index.
  
  
  METHODS
  FITNESSGRAM data from 2,126 Georgia schools were matched at the census tract level with SVI themes of socioeconomic, household composition, minority status and language, and housing and transportation. Multivariate multiple regression models were used to test whether SVI factors explained fitness outcomes, controlling for grade level (ie, elementary, middle, high school) and stratified by gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SVI themes explained the most variation in aerobic fitness and body mass index for both boys and girls (R2 values 11.5% to 26.6%). Socioeconomic, Minority Status and Language, and Housing and Transportation themes were salient predictors of fitness outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Youth fitness in Georgia was related to socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic themes. The SVI may be a useful needs assessment tool for health officials and researchers examining multilevel influences on health behaviors or identifying communities for prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Health Promotion and Behavior, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: Sara W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Robb
authors.forename: Kelsey M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002959:Civil Defense; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010809:Physical Fitness; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012574:Schools; D012923:Social Class