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Health Perspectives on the Impact of Historic Neighborhood Street Environments on Children’s Activities

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Listed:
  • Zhanhao Zhang

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Baoxin Zhai

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Shangna Hou

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710119, China)

  • Sitong Liu

    (College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710119, China)

Abstract

As street space is the most accessible outdoor area for kids, safeguarding their rights and interests on the streets is paramount for fostering kid-friendly communities. However, due to the absence of public space and inadequate security, the streets in historic neighborhoods are unsuitable for kids’ activities. To uncover the crucial influence of the street environment on children’s physical activity and Body Mass Index (BMI) health, we conducted a questionnaire survey for children aged 6–12 residing in the Xi’an Ming Dynasty City Wall Historical and Cultural Neighborhood (XMDN) and collected 343 valid responses. The analysis delved into children’s BMI statuses, their willingness to engage in street activities (WAS), the frequency (AF), duration (AD), and types (AT) of these activities, as well as their satisfaction with the street environment (SE). Using binary logit and linear regression models, we specifically examined the relationships between children’s BMI health, WAS, AT, AF, AD, and SE satisfaction. The key findings emphasize children’s inherent desire to be active on the streets. Based on the research findings, we suggest reducing traffic speed and widening sidewalks to make children’s street activities safer, optimizing street greening to improve the comfort of children’s activities, and enriching commercial activities on the street to create a fun atmosphere. These measures will collectively increase the duration and frequency of their outdoor activities and contribute to the overall improvement of children’s health and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhanhao Zhang & Baoxin Zhai & Shangna Hou & Sitong Liu, 2024. "Health Perspectives on the Impact of Historic Neighborhood Street Environments on Children’s Activities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7345-:d:1464458
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Le Zhang & Xiaoxiao Xu & Yanlong Guo, 2023. "The Impact of a Child-Friendly Design on Children’s Activities in Urban Community Pocket Parks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Pai Tang & Dan Yang & Nannan Dong, 2023. "The Effect of Intergenerational Parenting Mode on Children’s Outdoor Activities: A Case Study of Downtown Shanghai Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-13, October.
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