Association between neighborhood walkability and GPS-measured walking, bicycling and vehicle time in adolescents. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carlson, Jordan A.; Saelens, Brian E.; Kerr, Jacqueline; Schipperijn, Jasper; Conway, Terry L.; Frank, Lawrence D.; Chapman, Jim E.; Glanz, Karen; Cain, Kelli L.; Sallis, James F.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 32(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Density -- Land use -- Mode share -- Physical activity -- Transportation; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.12.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate relations of walking, bicycling and vehicle time to neighborhood walkability and total physical activity in youth. Methods: Participants ( N =690) were from 380 census block groups of high/low walkability and income in two US regions. Home neighborhood residential density, intersection density, retail density, entertainment density and walkability were derived using GIS. Minutes/day of walking, bicycling and vehicle time were derived from processing algorithms applied to GPS. Accelerometers estimated total daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Models were adjusted for nesting of days (N=2987) within participants within block groups. Results: Walking occurred on 33%, active travel on 43%, and vehicle time on 91% of the days observed. Intersection density and neighborhood walkability were positively related to walking and bicycling and negatively related to vehicle time. Residential density was positively related to walking. Conclusions: Increasing walking in youth could be effective in increasing total physical activity. Built environment findings suggest potential for increasing walking in youth through improving neighborhood walkability.