A multilevel examination of factors of the school environment and time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity among a sample of secondary school students in grades 9–12 in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

To examine associations between students' time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the school built environment while also considering features of the schools' social environment and student-level characteristics. Using surveys and GIS measures, multilevel linear regression analysis was applied to examine the environment- and student-level characteristics associated with time spent in MVPA among grade 9-12 students (n = 22,117) attending 76 secondary schools in Ontario, Canada as part of the SHAPES-Ontario study. Statistically significant between-school random variation in student MVPA was identified [[Formula: see text] = 9,065.22 (250.64)]; school-level differences accounted for 3.0% of the variability in student MVPA. Students attending a school that offered daily physical education or provided an alternate room for physical activity spent more time in MVPA than students attending a school without these resources. Moreover, as land-use mix diversity and walkability of the school neighbourhood increased, students' time spent in MVPA decreased. Developing a better understanding of the environment- and student-level characteristics associated with students' time spent in MVPA is critical for informing school-based physical activity intervention programmes and policies.