title: Neighborhood Design, Physical Activity, and Wellbeing: Applying the Walkability Model.
abstract: Neighborhood design affects lifestyle physical activity, and ultimately human wellbeing. There are, however, a limited number of studies that examine neighborhood design types. In this research, we examine four types of neighborhood designs: traditional development, suburban development, enclosed community, and cluster housing development, and assess their level of walkability and their effects on physical activity and wellbeing. We examine significant associations through a questionnaire (n= 486) distributed in Tucson, Arizona using the Walkability Model. Among the tested neighborhood design types, traditional development showed significant associations and the highest value for walkability, as well as for each of the two types of walking (recreation and transportation) representing physical activity. Suburban development showed significant associations and the highest mean values for mental health and wellbeing. Cluster housing showed significant associations and the highest mean value for social interactions with neighbors and for perceived safety from crime. Enclosed community did not obtain the highest means for any wellbeing benefit. The Walkability Model proved useful in identifying the walkability categories associated with physical activity and perceived crime. For example, theexperiencecategory was strongly and inversely associated with perceived crime. This study provides empirical evidence of the importance of including vegetation, particularly trees, throughout neighborhoods in order to increase physical activity and wellbeing. Likewise, the results suggest that regular maintenance is an important strategy to improve mental health and overall wellbeing in cities.
authors.affiliation: Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA. aazuniga@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Adriana A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Zuniga-Teran
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig 03690, Spain. barron.orr@gmail.com.|School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. barron.orr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Barron J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. gimblett@ag.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Randy H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gimblett
authors.affiliation: College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA. chalfoun@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Nader V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Chalfoun
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. dpg@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Guertin
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. smarsh@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Stuart E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona; D002947:Cities; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013383:Suburban Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: neighborhood design; physical activity; walkability; wellbeing