Faculty Collaboration Database

"Do you see what I see?" - correlates of multidimensional measures of neighborhood types and perceived physical activity-related neighborhood barriers and facilitators for urban youth. Prev Med 2010 Jan;50 Suppl 1:S18-23

Date

10/06/2009

Pubmed ID

19799931

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2009.08.015

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-73149083943 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   34 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To classify types of neighborhood environment and to examine the gender-specific cross-sectional associations between these neighborhood types and adolescents' perceptions of physical activity-related neighborhood barriers and facilitators.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 350 high school students in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2006. Participants completed the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). Objectively GIS-measured attributes of urban form came from various sources. Classification of built environment/neighborhood types was achieved by factor analysis and cluster analysis.

RESULTS: Four neighborhood types were identified: (1) arterial development; (2) inner-city area; (3) suburban residential; and (4) central business district. Girls who lived in suburban residential areas were less likely than their central business district counterparts to perceive the protective effects of crosswalks and pedestrian traffic signals. Girls living in inner-city neighborhoods were more likely than their central business district counterparts to perceive the traffic as being slow. Boys' perceptions of their neighborhood did not vary by neighborhood pattern.

CONCLUSIONS: Girls appear to be more sensitive to their environment and perceive more physical activity-related built environment barriers compared to boys. Efforts to overcome physical activity barriers salient for adolescent girls should be tailored to the type of neighborhood.

Author List

Yan AF, Voorhees CC, Clifton K, Burnier C

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior
Baltimore
Cluster Analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Environment Design
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Geographic Information Systems
Humans
Male
Motor Activity
Perception
Residence Characteristics
Safety
Sex Factors
Urban Health