title: Is the Association between Park Proximity and Recreational Physical Activity among Mid-Older Aged Adults Moderated by Park Quality and Neighborhood Conditions?
abstract: Previous studies have reported mixed findings on the relationship between park proximity and recreational physical activity (PA), which could be explained by park quality and the surrounding neighborhood environment. We examined whether park quality and perceptions of the neighborhood physical and social environment moderated associations between park proximity and recreational PA among mid-older aged adults. Cross-sectional self-reported data on park proximity, park quality, neighborhood physical and social environmental factors, recreational walking and other moderate- to vigorous-intensity recreational physical activity (MVPA) were collected among 2700 Australian adults (57-69 years) in 2012. Main effects between park proximity and measures of recreational PA were non-significant. Park proximity was positively related to engagement in recreational walking among participants who reported average and high social trust and cohesion, but not among those reporting low social trust and cohesion. No other moderating effects were observed. Current findings suggest synergistic relationships between park proximity and social trust and cohesion with mid-older aged adults' recreational walking. More research is needed to unravel the complex relationship between parks, recreational PA and the social context of neighborhoods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium. jelle.vancauwenberg@ugent.be.|Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, Brussels 1000, Belgium. jelle.vancauwenberg@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Jelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberg
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Spring Street 215 (level 6), Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Ester.Cerin@acu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cerin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Highway 221, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. anna.timperio@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timperio
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Highway 221, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. jo.salmon@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium. benedicte.deforche@ugent.be.|Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium. benedicte.deforche@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Benedicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deforche
authors.affiliation: Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Highway 221, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Veitch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068316:Parks, Recreational; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057566:Self Report; D014739:Victoria; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: ecological model; environment design; motor activity; retirement; social environment; walking