Abstract
BackgroundUrban green open space is a valuable resource for physical activities of urban inhabitants and has the potential to reduce chronic illness and improve health. Research on the relationships between green open space and physical activity is incomplete and limited in China. Thus, the study examines how the urban green open space contributes to physical activity.MethodsA questionnaire was designed based on the social ecology theory to investigate the physical activity of 513 residents in urban green open space. We use the time and frequency of residents exercising in urban green space to measure physical activity, and use the factor analysis to synthesize a large number of original factors (i.e., infrastructure, safety, accessibility, landscape quality, and space environment) into relatively few composite indicators. Based on the collected data of the cross-sectional population, the Order Probit regression model was constructed to analyze how urban green open space affects the residents’ physical activity from the perspective of social ecology.Results① in community factors: accessibility is significantly positive correlation with residents’ physical activity, and there is no significant correlation between safety and physical activity; ②in natural factors: space environment and landscape quality are not significantly correlated with residents’ physical activity; ③ in built environmental factors: infrastructures, the area of green space, the size of open space, and entertainment facilities are significantly correlated to residents’ activity. Basketball courts, volleyball courts, swimming pools, and sports equipment will promote physical activity; ④ apart from the attributes of green open space, other factors are significantly correlated to physical activity in the green open space, e.g. having a companion.ConclusionsUrban green open space plays an important role in promoting physical activity especially among the women and the old, and improving the attributes (such as accessibility, infrastructures, the area of green space, the size of open space and entertainment facilities) of the urban green open space and trying to set up group sports proper to play with companion (like “square dancing” and “Tai Chi”) can promote Chinese residents’ physical activity so as to improve public health. The results are significant to facilitate environment health.
Highlights
Urban green open space is a valuable resource for physical activities of urban inhabitants and has the potential to reduce chronic illness and improve health
Research theory The social ecology theory originated from the ecosystem theory, originally proposed by Bronfenbrenner, who identified the natural environment as the main source of human development, and the developing individual as in the middle of several environmental systems that span from a direct environment to an indirect environment [17, 34]
The model results of different variables are shown as follows: (1) The community factors of urban green open space affect residents’ PA frequency: The model results indicate that there is no significant correlation between safety and the physical activity frequency
Summary
Urban green open space is a valuable resource for physical activities of urban inhabitants and has the potential to reduce chronic illness and improve health. Research on the relationships between green open space and physical activity is incomplete and limited in China. The study examines how the urban green open space contributes to physical activity. The obesity rate, overweight rate, and chronic disease mortality rate have increased consistently, forming a major global public health issue. One-third of adults are physically inactive in the world [5], and a number of studies have shown that physical inactivity causes overweight [6], obesity [7, 8], and chronic diseases [9], and increases the risk of cancer and premature death [10]. A study by the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom reported that maintaining moderate physical activity (PA) was key to reduce the risk of premature death. PA was reported to promote health [14], reduce stress [15], and increase mental well-being [16]
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