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Built Environment Influences of Children’s Physical Activity: Examining Differences by Neighbourhood Size and Sex

Author

Listed:
  • Christine A. Mitchell

    (Department of Geography, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada)

  • Andrew F. Clark

    (Department of Geography, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jason A. Gilliland

    (Department of Geography, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Neighbourhoods can facilitate or constrain moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children by providing or restricting opportunities for MVPA. However, there is no consensus on how to define a child’s neighbourhood. This study examines the influence of the neighbourhood built environment on objectively measured MVPA among 435 children (aged 9–14 years) in London (ON, Canada). As there is no consensus on how to delineate a child’s neighbourhood, a geographic information system was used to generate measures of the neighbourhood built environment at two buffer sizes (500 m and 800 m) around each child’s home. Linear regression models with robust standard errors (cluster) were used to analyze the relationship between built environment characteristics and average daily MVPA during non-school hours on weekdays. Sex-stratified models assessed sex-specific relationships. When accounting for individual and neighbourhood socio-demographic variables, park space and multi-use path space were found to influence children’s MVPA. Sex-stratified models found significant associations between MVPA and park space, with the 800 m buffer best explaining boys’ MVPA and the 500 m buffer best explaining girls’ MVPA. Findings emphasize that, when designing built environments, programs, and policies to facilitate physical activity, it is important to consider that the size of the neighbourhood influencing a child’s physical activity may differ according to sex.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine A. Mitchell & Andrew F. Clark & Jason A. Gilliland, 2016. "Built Environment Influences of Children’s Physical Activity: Examining Differences by Neighbourhood Size and Sex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:1:p:130-:d:62247
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    1. Larsen, K. & Gilliland, J. & Hess, P. & Tucker, P. & Irwin, J. & He, M., 2009. "The influence of the physical environment and sociodemographic characteristics on children's mode of travel to and from school," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(3), pages 520-526.
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    2. Jue Wang & Mei-Po Kwan, 2018. "An Analytical Framework for Integrating the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Environmental Context and Individual Mobility in Exposure Assessment: A Study on the Relationship between Food Environment Exposu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, September.
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    4. Amanda N. Spitzer & Katrina Oselinsky & Rachel G. Lucas-Thompson & Dan J. Graham, 2022. "Environmental Physical Activity Cues and Children’s Active vs. Sedentary Recreation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, February.
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    6. Matthew Browning & Kangjae Lee, 2017. "Within What Distance Does “Greenness” Best Predict Physical Health? A Systematic Review of Articles with GIS Buffer Analyses across the Lifespan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Melody Smith & Rebecca Amann & Alana Cavadino & Deborah Raphael & Robin Kearns & Roger Mackett & Lisa Mackay & Penelope Carroll & Euan Forsyth & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Erika Ikeda & Karen Witt, 2019. "Children’s Transport Built Environments: A Mixed Methods Study of Associations between Perceived and Objective Measures and Relationships with Parent Licence for Independent Mobility in Auckland, New ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Brenton L. G. Button & Andrew F. Clark & Gina Martin & Megan Graat & Jason A. Gilliland, 2020. "Measuring Temporal Differences in Rural Canadian Children’s Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Agata Korcz & Jana Krzysztoszek & Marlena Łopatka & Mateusz Ludwiczak & Paulina Górska & Michał Bronikowski, 2020. "The Role of Family Time Together in Meeting the Recommendation for Physical Activity among Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-14, June.
    10. Suzanne Tillmann & Andrew F. Clark & Jason A. Gilliland, 2018. "Children and Nature: Linking Accessibility of Natural Environments and Children’s Health-Related Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, May.
    11. Tayyaba Kiyani & Sumaira Kayani & Saima Kayani & Iffat Batool & Si Qi & Michele Biasutti, 2021. "Individual, Interpersonal, and Organizational Factors Affecting Physical Activity of School Adolescents in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-14, June.
    12. Shatabdi Goon & Saija Kontulainen & Nazeem Muhajarine, 2020. "Neighborhood Built Environment Measures and Association with Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in 9–14-Year-Old Children in Saskatoon, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, May.
    13. Vanesa Alcántara-Porcuna & Mairena Sánchez-López & Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno & María Martínez-Andrés & Abel Ruiz-Hermosa & Beatriz Rodríguez-Martín, 2021. "Parents’ Perceptions on Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity among Schoolchildren: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-27, March.
    14. Yang Zhou & Meng Wang & Siming Lin & Caiyun Qian, 2022. "Relationship between Children’s Independent Activities and the Built Environment of Outdoor Activity Space in Residential Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Nanjing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-24, August.
    15. Melody Smith & Suzanne Mavoa & Erika Ikeda & Kamyar Hasanzadeh & Jinfeng Zhao & Tiina E. Rinne & Niamh Donnellan & Marketta Kyttä & Jianqiang Cui, 2022. "Associations between Children’s Physical Activity and Neighborhood Environments Using GIS: A Secondary Analysis from a Systematic Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, January.

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