Perceptions of Neighborhood Sidewalks on Walking and Physical Activity Patterns in a Southeastern Community in the US.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between perceptions of neighborhood sidewalks and race, and walking and physical activity (PA) patterns in a southeastern US community. METHODS A telephone survey was administered to a stratified sample of adults (N = 1148). Physical activity was categorized according to the CDC/ACSM recommendations. Respondents were also asked if they walked for at least 10 min at a time for recreation, exercise, transportation, or while at work. RESULTS A greater proportion (44%) of respondents who reported having neighborhood sidewalks were irregular walkers (OR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.11). For whites, (but not for non-whites) the perceived presence of sidewalks increased the odds for meeting recommended PA levels (P < 0.05; OR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.05, 12.24). CONCLUSIONS Presence of neighborhood sidewalks was related to irregular walking levels of respondents. Sidewalk presence was related to PA in whites, but was not related to activity patterns of non-whites.

[1]  B. Ainsworth,et al.  Correlates of physical activity among U.S. Young adults, 18 to 30 years of age, from NHANES III , 2003, Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

[2]  J. Sallis,et al.  Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: Findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures , 2003, Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

[3]  J F Sallis,et al.  Promoting physical activity in rural communities: walking trail access, use, and effects. , 2000, American journal of preventive medicine.

[4]  Andrea L Dunn,et al.  Exploring the effect of the environment on physical activity: a study examining walking to work. , 2002, American journal of preventive medicine.

[5]  Dawn K. Wilson,et al.  Associations of perceived social and physical environmental supports with physical activity and walking behavior. , 2004, American journal of public health.

[6]  Pranesh P. Chowdhury,et al.  Places to walk: convenience and regular physical activity. , 2003, American journal of public health.

[7]  C. Voorhees,et al.  Personal, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity in urban African-American women. , 2003, American journal of preventive medicine.

[8]  B. Giles-Corti,et al.  Relative influences of individual, social environmental, and physical environmental correlates of walking. , 2003, American journal of public health.

[9]  K. Patrick,et al.  Physical Activity and Public Health: A Recommendation From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine , 1995 .

[10]  Dawn K. Wilson,et al.  Socioeconomic status and perceptions of access and safety for physical activity , 2004, Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.

[11]  J. Sallis,et al.  Assessing perceived physical environmental variables that may influence physical activity. , 1997, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[12]  Amy A. Eyler,et al.  Physical Activity and Minority Women: A Qualitative Study , 1998, Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education.

[13]  B. Ainsworth,et al.  Personal, social, and physical environmental correlates of physical activity in African-American women in South Carolina. , 2003, American journal of preventive medicine.

[14]  B. Ainsworth,et al.  "It Takes a Village" to Promote Physical Activity: The Potential for Public Park and Recreation Departments , 2001 .

[15]  B. Ainsworth,et al.  Environmental, Policy, and Cultural Factors Related to Physical Activity in African American Women , 2002, Women & health.

[16]  Fred Fridinger,et al.  Environmental and Policy Approaches to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Through Physical Activity: Issues and Opportunities , 1995, Health education quarterly.

[17]  K. Glanz,et al.  Health Behavior and Health Education , 1990 .

[18]  D. Young,et al.  Environmental, Policy, and Cultural Factors Related to Physical Activity in Well-Educated Urban African American Women , 2002, Women & health.

[19]  R. Brownson,et al.  Environmental and policy determinants of physical activity in the United States. , 2001, American journal of public health.

[20]  J. Wilbur,et al.  Environmental, Policy, and Cultural Factors Related to Physical Activity in Urban, African American Women , 2002, Women & health.

[21]  B H Marcus,et al.  Determinants of physical activity and interventions in adults. , 1992, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[22]  C. Caspersen,et al.  Physical activity trends among 26 states, 1986-1990. , 1995, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[23]  Reid Ewing,et al.  Can the Physical Environment Determine Physical Activity Levels? , 2005, Exercise and sport sciences reviews.

[24]  C. Ross,et al.  Walking, exercising, and smoking: does neighborhood matter? , 2000, Social science & medicine.

[25]  C. Caspersen,et al.  Distance between homes and exercise facilities related to frequency of exercise among San Diego residents. , 1990, Public health reports.

[26]  Ross C Brownson,et al.  Environmental and Policy Factors Associated with Overweight among Adults in Missouri , 2003, American journal of health promotion : AJHP.

[27]  Barbara E Ainsworth,et al.  Environmental measures of physical activity supports: perception versus reality. , 2003, American journal of preventive medicine.

[28]  D. Merom,et al.  An environmental intervention to promote walking and cycling--the impact of a newly constructed Rail Trail in Western Sydney. , 2003, Preventive medicine.

[29]  B. Psaty,et al.  Leisure-time physical activity and the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women. , 1995, Archives of internal medicine.

[30]  J F Sallis,et al.  Personal and environmental factors associated with physical inactivity among different racial-ethnic groups of U.S. middle-aged and older-aged women. , 2000, Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association.

[31]  Melissa Bopp,et al.  Psychosocial and perceived environmental correlates of physical activity in rural and older african american and white women. , 2003, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.