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How the Built Environment Promotes Residents’ Physical Activity: The Importance of a Holistic People-Centered Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Yufang Zhang

    (Department of History of Architecture and Urbanism & Expertise Centre Architecture, Urbanism and Health, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 716, 9700 AS Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Terry van Dijk

    (Department of Spatial Planning & Environment, Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 800, 9700 AV Groningen, The Netherlands)

  • Cor Wagenaar

    (Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5, 2600 AA Delft, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Promoting adequate physical activity (PA) such as walking and cycling is essential to cope with the global health challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Much research has been conducted to analyze how the built environment can promote PA, but the results are not consistent. Some scholars found that certain built environments such as green spaces generated positive impacts on PA, while some other studies showed no correlations. We suspected that the built environment should be measured in a deeply holistic nuanced way in order to properly reflect its impact on PA. Therefore, our research adopted an integral urban-analysis comparing three typical neighborhoods in Beijing, China. Our data show that the highest PA occurs in the neighborhood with the lowest density, amount of green space and street connectivity, apparently compensated by its low-rise housing type and high appreciation of the quality of sidewalks and street safety. This indicates that dimensions impacting PA have to be considered in context, and the peoples’ perception of the built environment matters.

Suggested Citation

  • Yufang Zhang & Terry van Dijk & Cor Wagenaar, 2022. "How the Built Environment Promotes Residents’ Physical Activity: The Importance of a Holistic People-Centered Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:9:p:5595-:d:808597
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Useche, Sergio A. & Alonso, Francisco & Boyko, Aleksey & Buyvol, Polina & Castañeda, Isaac D. & Cendales, Boris & Cervantes, Arturo & Echiburu, Tomas & Faus, Mireia & Gene-Morales, Javier & Gnap, Joze, 2024. "Yes, size does matter (for cycling safety)! Comparing behavioral and safety outcomes in S, M, L, and XL cities from 18 countries," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Marwan Elmubarak & Naeema AlHosani & Mohamed Yagoub & Amar Khamis, 2023. "The Effects of Objective and Perceived Neighborhood Amenities on Youths’ Wellbeing: The Case of the City of Al Ain, UAE," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Suin Jin & Eun Jung Kim, 2024. "Correlation of the Walk Score and Environmental Perceptions with Perceived Neighborhood Walkability: The Quantile Regression Model Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-16, August.

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