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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. Tessa Pocock & Antoni Moore & Javier Molina-García & Ana Queralt & Sandra Mandic, 2020. "School Neighbourhood Built Environment Assessment for Adolescents’ Active Transport to School: Modification of an Environmental Audit Tool and Protocol (MAPS Global-SN)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-17, March.
    3. 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.
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    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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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