The neighborhood recreational environment and physical activity among urban youth: an examination of public and private recreational facilities. J Community Health 2011 Aug;36(4):640-9
Date
01/13/2011Pubmed ID
21225329DOI
10.1007/s10900-010-9355-1Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79961167134 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 31 CitationsAbstract
Recreational facility availability has been shown to associate positively with youth physical activity levels. Nonetheless, little is known about additional facility characteristics affecting their use for physical activity as well as differences between private and public facilities. This study examines (1) perceptions and use of public and private recreational facilities and (2) environmental and individual-level correlates of both facility use and physical activity among urban adolescents. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometry, objective measures of facility availability were obtained using Geographical Information Systems data, and facility use and perceptions were measured with a survey (N = 327). Adolescents were more likely to use public than private facilities despite perceiving that private facilities were of higher quality. Adolescents' use of both public and private facilities was associated with perceived (but not objective) availability, perceived quality, and use by friends and family. Public, but not private, facility use was associated with physical activity. This study reveals the importance of public facilities to the physical activity of urban youth.
Author List
Ries AV, Yan AF, Voorhees CCMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdolescent Behavior
Attitude to Health
Exercise
Female
Fitness Centers
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Public Facilities
Residence Characteristics
Sports
United States
Urban Population
