Identification of the impact of crime on physical activity depends upon neighbourhood scale: Multilevel evidence from 203, 883 Australians. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Astell-Burt, Thomas; Feng, Xiaoqi; Kolt, Gregory S.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 31(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 120
• Page End: 123
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Crime -- Physical activity -- Multilevel modelling -- Geographic scale; 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.2014.11.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: Equivocal findings on crime as a deterrent for physical activity may be due to effects of geographic scale on exposure measurement. To investigate this hypothesis, physical activity was measured in 203, 883 Australians and linked to standardised crime counts within small ('Census Collection Districts'; approx. 330 residents) and larger areas ('Statistical Local Areas'; approx. 32, 000 residents). A median rate ratio of 2.26 indicated substantive geographic variation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Adjusting for confounders, multilevel negative binomial regression reported lower MVPA with more crime consistently in small, but not in larger areas. Reducing small pockets of local crime may encourage more physically active lifestyles. Highlights: Effects of geographic scale are under researched in epidemiological studies. More crime was associated with less physical activity at a small geographic scale. Associations at a larger scale were weaker or not statistically significant. Local crime is likely to be a greater deterrent of physical activity. Epidemiologic studies of crime using coarse scales risk exposure misclassification.