Association between perceived built environment attributes and adults' leisure-time physical activity in four cities of China

Abstract

Objective: To explore the associations between perceived built environment attributes and adults' leisure-time physical activity in four cities of China. Methods: Multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select adults aged 25 to 64 in Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Qingdao. Data were collected from June 2017 to July 2018. The perception of the urban built environment was assessed by the neighborhood environment walkability scale-abbreviated (NEWS-A), and the physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Generalized linear mixed models were used to explore the relationship between the perceived built environment and leisure-time physical activities. Results: A total of 3 789 participants were included in the analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, better access to public services (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.02-1.75) and higher aesthetic quality (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.09-1.73) were positively associated with the possibility of engaging in leisure-time physical activity in the past week. Similarly, these two attributes were positively associated with leisure-time walking. Higher scores on the perception of street connectivity were positively associated with leisure-time walking [exp(β)=1.09, 95%CI: 1.00-1.19]. Higher residential density [exp(β)=1.000 4, 95%CI:1.000 0-1.000 8], better access to physical activity destinations[exp(β)=1.09, 95%CI: 1.00-1.19], and better aesthetics [exp(β)=1.11, 95%CI:1.00-1.22] were associated with higher leisure-time physical activity. Similarly, these three attributes were positively associated with the possibility of meeting the WHO recommendations. Conclusion: Changing some urban built environment attributes may increase leisure-time physical activity.