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Associations between perceived neighborhood environmental attributes and adults’ sedentary behavior: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium

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  • Van Dyck, Delfien
  • Cerin, Ester
  • Conway, Terry L.
  • De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse
  • Owen, Neville
  • Kerr, Jacqueline
  • Cardon, Greet
  • Frank, Lawrence D.
  • Saelens, Brian E.
  • Sallis, James F.

Abstract

Sedentary behaviors are associated with multiple health problems, independently of physical activity. Neighborhood environment attributes might influence sedentary behaviors, but few studies have investigated these relationships. Moreover, all previous studies have been conducted within single countries, limiting environmental variability. We investigated the shape of associations between perceived neighborhood environment attributes and sedentary behavior in three countries; and whether these associations differed by country and gender. Data from USA (Seattle and Baltimore regions), Australia (Adelaide) and Belgium (Ghent) were pooled. Data collection took place between 2002 and 2008. In total, 6014 adults (20–65 years, 55.7% women) were recruited in high-/low-walkability and high-/low-income neighborhoods. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (domain-specific physical activity, transport-related sitting and overall time spent sitting) and the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale (environmental perceptions). The number of destinations within a 20 min walk from home, perceiving few cul-de-sacs, good walking and cycling facilities, and traffic safety were included in an index of motorized transport correlates. This index was linearly negatively associated with motorized transport time, so the higher the scores on the index (more activity-friendliness), the lower the amount of motorized transport. No gender- or country-differences were identified. Perceived aesthetics and proximity of destinations were included in an index of overall sitting time correlates. A linear negative relationship with overall sitting time was found, but associations were stronger for men and not significant in Belgian adults. In conclusion, consistent and expected correlates were found for motorized transport in the three countries, but results were less clear for overall sitting time. Future studies should include even more countries to maximize environmental variability, but present findings suggest that neighborhoods may be designed to improve health through supporting more active and less sedentary transportation, which can be expected to have health benefits.

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  • Van Dyck, Delfien & Cerin, Ester & Conway, Terry L. & De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse & Owen, Neville & Kerr, Jacqueline & Cardon, Greet & Frank, Lawrence D. & Saelens, Brian E. & Sallis, James F., 2012. "Associations between perceived neighborhood environmental attributes and adults’ sedentary behavior: Findings from the USA, Australia and Belgium," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(9), pages 1375-1384.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:9:p:1375-1384
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.018
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saelens, B.E. & Sallis, J.F. & Black, J.B. & Chen, D., 2003. "Neighborhood-Based Differences in Physical Activity: An Environment Scale Evaluation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1552-1558.
    2. Sallis, James F. & Saelens, Brian E. & Frank, Lawrence D. & Conway, Terry L. & Slymen, Donald J. & Cain, Kelli L. & Chapman, James E. & Kerr, Jacqueline, 2009. "Neighborhood built environment and income: Examining multiple health outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1285-1293, April.
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    1. Nicole E. H. Stappers & Dave H. H. Van Kann & Nanne K. De Vries & Stef P. J. Kremers, 2018. "Do Physical Activity Friendly Neighborhoods Affect Community Members Equally? A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Yung Liao & Chien-Yu Lin & Ting-Fu Lai & Yen-Ju Chen & Bohyeon Kim & Jong-Hwan Park, 2019. "Walk Score ® and Its Associations with Older Adults’ Health Behaviors and Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Hao Huang, 2022. "Moderating Effects of Racial Segregation on the Associations of Cardiovascular Outcomes with Walkability in Chicago Metropolitan Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Javier Molina-García & Cristina Menescardi & Isaac Estevan & Vladimir Martínez-Bello & Ana Queralt, 2019. "Neighborhood Built Environment and Socioeconomic Status are Associated with Active Commuting and Sedentary Behavior, but not with Leisure-Time Physical Activity, in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-12, August.
    5. Ming-Chun Hsueh & Yung Liao & Shao-Hsi Chang, 2016. "Perceived Neighborhood and Home Environmental Factors Associated with Television Viewing among Taiwanese Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-12, July.
    6. Veerle Van Holle & Sarah A. McNaughton & Megan Teychenne & Anna Timperio & Delfien Van Dyck & Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij & Jo Salmon, 2014. "Social and Physical Environmental Correlates of Adults’ Weekend Sitting Time and Moderating Effects of Retirement Status and Physical Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Danan Gu & Haiyan Zhu & Ming Wen, 2015. "Neighborhood-health links: Differences between rural-to-urban migrants and natives in Shanghai," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(17), pages 499-524.
    8. Menno Luijkx & Marco Helbich, 2019. "Neighborhood Walkability Is Not Associated with Adults’ Sedentary Behavior in the Residential Setting: Evidence from Breda, The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-12, September.
    9. Fujiwara, Takeo & Takamoto, Iseki & Amemiya, Airi & Hanazato, Masamichi & Suzuki, Norimichi & Nagamine, Yuiko & Sasaki, Yuri & Tani, Yukako & Yazawa, Aki & Inoue, Yosuke & Shirai, Kokoro & Shobugawa, , 2017. "Is a hilly neighborhood environment associated with diabetes mellitus among older people? Results from the JAGES 2010 study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 45-51.
    10. Timothy Gustavo Cavazzotto & Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque & Edgar Ramos Vieira & Marcos Roberto Queiroga & Helio Serassuelo Junior, 2020. "Social-Ecological Correlates of Regular Leisure-Time Physical Activity Practice among Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-15, May.

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