IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v15y2018i5p897-d144182.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Neighbourhood Built Environment Influences on Physical Activity among Adults: A Systematized Review of Qualitative Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Grazia Salvo

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada)

  • Bonnie M. Lashewicz

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada)

  • Patricia K. Doyle-Baker

    (Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
    Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

  • Gavin R. McCormack

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6 Canada
    Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada)

Abstract

Qualitative studies can provide important information about how and why the built environment impacts physical activity decision-making—information that is important for informing local urban policies. We undertook a systematized literature review to synthesize findings from qualitative studies exploring how the built environment influences physical activity in adults. Our review included 36 peer-reviewed qualitative studies published from 1998 onwards. Our findings complemented existing quantitative evidence and provided additional insight into how functional, aesthetic, destination, and safety built characteristics influence physical activity decision-making. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) also impacted the BE’s influence on physical activity. Our review findings reinforce the need for synergy between transportation planning, urban design, landscape architecture, road engineering, parks and recreation, bylaw enforcement, and public health to be involved in creating neighbourhood environments that support physical activity. Our findings support a need for local neighbourhood citizens and associations with representation from individuals and groups with different sociodemographic backgrounds to have input into neighbourhood environment planning process.

Suggested Citation

  • Grazia Salvo & Bonnie M. Lashewicz & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker & Gavin R. McCormack, 2018. "Neighbourhood Built Environment Influences on Physical Activity among Adults: A Systematized Review of Qualitative Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:897-:d:144182
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/5/897/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/5/897/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Walton, Emily, 2014. "Vital places: Facilitators of behavioral and social health mechanisms in low-income neighborhoods," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 1-12.
    2. Mojtaba Vaismoradi & Hannele Turunen & Terese Bondas, 2013. "Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 398-405, September.
    3. Walker, Ruth B. & Hiller, Janet E., 2007. "Places and health: A qualitative study to explore how older women living alone perceive the social and physical dimensions of their neighbourhoods," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1154-1165, September.
    4. Giles-Corti, B. & Donovan, R.J., 2003. "Relative Influences of Individual, Social Environmental, and Physical Environmental Correlates of Walking," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1583-1589.
    5. Belon, Ana Paula & Nieuwendyk, Laura M. & Vallianatos, Helen & Nykiforuk, Candace I.J., 2014. "How community environment shapes physical activity: Perceptions revealed through the PhotoVoice method," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 10-21.
    6. Ivory, Vivienne C. & Russell, Marie & Witten, Karen & Hooper, Carolyn M. & Pearce, Jamie & Blakely, Tony, 2015. "What shape is your neighbourhood? Investigating the micro geographies of physical activity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 313-321.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke & Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez & Francisca Parra Huerta & Rodrigo Mora, 2022. "The Disabling City: Older Persons Walking in Central Neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    2. Eun Jung Kim & Suin Jin, 2023. "Walk Score and Neighborhood Walkability: A Case Study of Daegu, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    3. Saengryeol Park & So-Youn Park & Gapjin Oh & In-Hwan Oh, 2019. "Latent Profiles Based on Light Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Perceived Body Shape, and Body Mass Index in Patients with Dyslipidemia Influence Their Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Sadegh Fathi & Hassan Sajadzadeh & Faezeh Mohammadi Sheshkal & Farshid Aram & Gergo Pinter & Imre Felde & Amir Mosavi, 2020. "The Role of Urban Morphology Design on Enhancing Physical Activity and Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-29, March.
    5. Fernando Fonseca & Escolástica Fernandes & Rui Ramos, 2022. "Walkable Cities: Using the Smart Pedestrian Net Method for Evaluating a Pedestrian Network in Guimarães, Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    6. Xue Zhang & Mildred E. Warner, 2023. "Linking Urban Planning, Community Environment, and Physical Activity: A Socio-Ecological Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-15, February.
    7. Gavin R. McCormack & Levi Frehlich & Anita Blackstaffe & Tanvir C. Turin & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker, 2020. "Active and Fit Communities. Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Health-Related Fitness in Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Shaohua Tan & Fengxiao Cao & Jinsu Yang, 2020. "The Study on Spatial Elements of Health-Supportive Environment in Residential Streets Promoting Residents’ Walking Trips," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-33, July.
    9. Esther J. Veen & E. Dinand Ekkel & Milan R. Hansma & Anke G. M. de Vrieze, 2020. "Designing Urban Green Space (UGS) to Enhance Health: A Methodology," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Nabipour, Mohammad & Rosenberg, Mark W. & Nasseri, Seyed Hadi, 2022. "The built environment, networks design, and safety features: An analysis of pedestrian commuting behavior in intermediate-sized cities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 14-23.
    11. Nadine Schuurman & Leah Rosenkrantz & Scott A. Lear, 2021. "Environmental Preferences and Concerns of Recreational Road Runners," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Yang, Wei & Hu, Jie & Liu, Yong & Guo, Wenbo, 2023. "Examining the influence of neighborhood and street-level built environment on fitness jogging in Chengdu, China: A massive GPS trajectory data analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Emmanuel Songsore & Michael Buzzelli, 2016. "Ontario’s Experience of Wind Energy Development as Seen through the Lens of Human Health and Environmental Justice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Ana Cristina Lindsay & Sherrie F. Wallington & Faith D. Lees & Mary L. Greaney, 2018. "Exploring How the Home Environment Influences Eating and Physical Activity Habits of Low-Income, Latino Children of Predominantly Immigrant Families: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Bettina Bringolf-Isler & Christian Schindler & Kees Hoogh & Bengt Kayser & L. Suzanne Suggs & Alain Dössegger & Nicole Probst-Hensch, 2019. "Association of objectively measured and perceived environment with accelerometer-based physical activity and cycling: a Swiss population-based cross-sectional study of children," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 64(4), pages 499-510, May.
    4. Borch, Kristian & Munk, Anders K. & Dahlgaard, Vibeke, 2020. "Mapping wind-power controversies on social media: Facebook as a powerful mobilizer of local resistance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Caro Wolfner & Corilyn Ott & Kalani Upshaw & Angela Stowe & Lisa Schwiebert & Robin Gaines Lanzi, 2023. "Coping Strategies and Help-Seeking Behaviors of College Students and Postdoctoral Fellows with Disabilities or Pre-Existing Conditions during COVID-19," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Kathy Black & Dylan J. Jester, 2020. "Examining Older Adults’ Perspectives on the Built Environment and Correlates of Healthy Aging in an American Age-Friendly Community," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-11, September.
    7. Brent Hammer & Helen Vallianatos & Candace Nykiforuk & Laura Nieuwendyk, 2015. "Perceptions of healthy eating in four Alberta communities: a photovoice project," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(4), pages 649-662, December.
    8. McNeill, Lorna Haughton & Kreuter, Matthew W. & Subramanian, S.V., 2006. "Social Environment and Physical activity: A review of concepts and evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 1011-1022, August.
    9. Christopher Mulwanda & Vincent R. Nyirenda & Ngawo Namukonde, 2024. "Traditional ecological knowledge, perceptions and practices on insect pollinator conservation: A case of the smallholder farmers in Murundu ward of Mufulira mining district of Zambia," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(1), pages 24-35, March.
    10. Emily Talen, 2011. "Sprawl Retrofit: Sustainable Urban Form in Unsustainable Places," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 38(6), pages 952-978, December.
    11. Hannah Badland & Allison Milner & Rebecca Roberts & Billie Giles-Corti, 2017. "Are Area-Level Measures of Employment Associated with Health Behaviours and Outcomes?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 134(1), pages 237-251, October.
    12. Rebecca A. Johnson & David L. Albright & James R. Marzolf & Jessica L. Bibbo & Hayley D. Yaglom & Sandra M. Crowder & Gretchen M. Carlisle & Karen Grindler & Nathan Harms & Amy Willard & Marita Wassma, 2021. "Experiences of Military Veterans in a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 30(7), pages 923-933, September.
    13. Oliver Laasch & Dirk C. Moosmayer & Frithjof Arp, 2020. "Responsible Practices in the Wild: An Actor-Network Perspective on Mobile Apps in Learning as Translation(s)," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(2), pages 253-277, January.
    14. Chilombo, Andrew & Van Der Horst, Dan, 2021. "Livelihoods and coping strategies of local communities on previous customary land in limbo of commercial agricultural development: Lessons from the farm block program in Zambia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    15. Bentley, Rebecca & Jolley, Damien & Kavanagh, Anne Marie, 2010. "Local environments as determinants of walking in Melbourne, Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 1806-1815, June.
    16. McDonald, Noreen C., 2005. "Children’s Travel: Patterns and Influences," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt51c9m01c, University of California Transportation Center.
    17. Sandra Carrasco & David O’Brien, 2023. "Build Back Safely: Evaluating the Occupational Health and Safety in Post-Disaster Reconstruction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, May.
    18. Arianna Magon & Cristina Arrigoni & Tiziana Roveda & Paola Grimoldi & Federica Dellafiore & Marco Moia & Kehinde O Obamiro & Rosario Caruso, 2018. "Anticoagulation Knowledge Tool (AKT): Further evidence of validity in the Italian population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, August.
    19. Borja García-Lorenzo & Ania Gorostiza & Nerea González & Igor Larrañaga & Maider Mateo-Abad & Ana Ortega-Gil & Janika Bloemeke & Oliver Groene & Itziar Vergara & Javier Mar & Sarah N. Lim Choi Keung &, 2023. "Assessment of the Effectiveness, Socio-Economic Impact and Implementation of a Digital Solution for Patients with Advanced Chronic Diseases: The ADLIFE Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-14, February.
    20. Fiorillo, Damiano & Sabatini, Fabio, 2015. "Structural social capital and health in Italy," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 129-142.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:897-:d:144182. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.