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How Do Neighbourhood Definitions Influence the Associations between Built Environment and Physical Activity?

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  • Suzanne Mavoa

    (SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, School of Public Health, Massey University, P.O. Box 6137, Auckland 1141, New Zealand
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Nasser Bagheri

    (The Visualisation and Decision Analytics (VIDEA) lab, Centre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia)

  • Mohammad Javad Koohsari

    (Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan
    Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Andrew T. Kaczynski

    (Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA)

  • Karen E. Lamb

    (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia)

  • Koichiro Oka

    (Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Saitama 359-1192, Japan)

  • David O’Sullivan

    (School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University, Wellington 6012, New Zealand)

  • Karen Witten

    (SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, School of Public Health, Massey University, P.O. Box 6137, Auckland 1141, New Zealand)

Abstract

Researchers investigating relationships between the neighbourhood environment and health first need to decide on the spatial extent of the neighbourhood they are interested in. This decision is an important and ongoing methodological challenge since different methods of defining and delineating neighbourhood boundaries can produce different results. This paper explores this issue in the context of a New Zealand-based study of the relationship between the built environment and multiple measures of physical activity. Geographic information systems were used to measure three built environment attributes—dwelling density, street connectivity, and neighbourhood destination accessibility—using seven different neighbourhood definitions (three administrative unit boundaries, and 500, 800, 1000- and 1500-m road network buffers). The associations between the three built environment measures and five measures of physical activity (mean accelerometer counts per hour, percentage time in moderate–vigorous physical activity, self-reported walking for transport, self-reported walking for recreation and self-reported walking for all purposes) were modelled for each neighbourhood definition. The combination of the choice of neighbourhood definition, built environment measure, and physical activity measure determined whether evidence of an association was detected or not. Results demonstrated that, while there was no single ideal neighbourhood definition, the built environment was most consistently associated with a range of physical activity measures when the 800-m and 1000-m road network buffers were used. For the street connectivity and destination accessibility measures, associations with physical activity were less likely to be detected at smaller scales (less than 800 m). In line with some previous research, this study demonstrated that the choice of neighbourhood definition can influence whether or not an association between the built environment and adults’ physical activity is detected or not. This study additionally highlighted the importance of the choice of built environment attribute and physical activity measures. While we identified the 800-m and 1000-m road network buffers as the neighbourhood definitions most consistently associated with a range of physical activity measures, it is important that researchers carefully consider the most appropriate type of neighbourhood definition and scale for the particular aim and participants, especially at smaller scales.

Suggested Citation

  • Suzanne Mavoa & Nasser Bagheri & Mohammad Javad Koohsari & Andrew T. Kaczynski & Karen E. Lamb & Koichiro Oka & David O’Sullivan & Karen Witten, 2019. "How Do Neighbourhood Definitions Influence the Associations between Built Environment and Physical Activity?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-16, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1501-:d:226575
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Letizia Appolloni & Daniela D’Alessandro, 2023. "Neighborhoods’ Walkability for Elderly People: An Italian Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Kenta Okuyama & Takafumi Abe & Xinjun Li & Yuta Toyama & Kristina Sundquist & Toru Nabika, 2021. "Neighborhood Environmental Factors and Physical Activity Status among Rural Older Adults in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Jiemei Luo & Edwin H. W. Chan & Jinfeng Du & Linxia Feng & Peng Jiang & Ying Xu, 2022. "Developing a Health-Spatial Indicator System for a Healthy City in Small and Midsized Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-20, March.
    6. Choong Weng-Wai & Wee Siaw-Chui & Low Sheau-Ting & Chin Hon-Choong & Asma Idayu Izhar, 2023. "Community Acceptance Towards Migrant Settlements in a Sustainable City: What Contributes to the Not in My Backyard Social Phenomenon?," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 611-636, June.
    7. Yijun Zhang & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Deborah Raphael & Melody Smith, 2020. "The Association between Green Space and Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-26, September.

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