Sports participation, perceived neighborhood safety, and individual cognitions: how do they interact?

Mariëlle A Beenackers,Johan P Mackenbach,Frank J Van Lenthe,Alex Burdorf,Carlijn Bm Kamphuis

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-76

Mariëlle A Beenackers, Johan P Mackenbach + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-76

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Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the interaction between individual and environmental determinants of physical activity, although this may be important information for the development of effective interventions. The goal of this paper is to investigate whether perceived neighborhood safety modifies associations between individual cognitions and sports participation.MethodsCross-sectional data were obtained from residents (age 25-75) of 87 neighborhoods in the city of Eindhoven, who participated in the Dutch GLOBE study in 2004 (N = 2474). We used multilevel logistic regression to analyze the interactions between perceived neighborhood safety and individual cognitions (attitude, self-efficacy, social influence, and intention) on sports participation (yes/no).ResultsIn its association with sports participation, perceived neighborhood safety interacted significantly with self-efficacy and attitude (p < 0.05). Among persons who perceived their neighborhood as safe, a positive attitude was strongly associated with sports participation (OR = 2.00, 95%CI = 1.48-2.71). In contrast, attitude was not associated with sports participation in persons who perceived their neighborhood as unsafe (OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.34-1.24). Further, self-efficacy was significantly stronger associated with sports participation in persons who perceived their neighborhood as unsafe (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.31-2.60) than in those who perceived their neighborhood as safe (OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.05-1.36). Social influence and intention did not interact with perceived neighborhood safety.ConclusionsAssociations between individual cognitions and sports participation depend on neighborhood circumstances, such as perceived neighborhood safety. Interventions to promote sports participation in adults should take the interaction between environmental and individual characteristics into account. More research is needed to find out the causal pathways in individual-environment interactions.

Highlights

Little is known about the interaction between individual and environmental determinants of physical activity, this may be important information for the development of effective interventions
The use of personal data in the GLOBE study is in compliance with the Dutch Personal Data Protection Act and the Municipal Database Act, and has been registered with the Dutch Data Protection Authority
Since we suspect that safety concerns are different in a city environment compared to a rural environment, only participants residing in the city of Eindhoven (N = 2917) were selected

Summary

Introduction

Little is known about the interaction between individual and environmental determinants of physical activity, this may be important information for the development of effective interventions. Regular physical activity (PA) prevents major chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, mental illness, obesity, and various types of cancer [1,2]. The health benefits of regular exercise and a physically active lifestyle are well known, many people are still not active. The focus of research has shifted more to environmental determinants of health and health behavior [9]. Ecological models suggest that health behavior is determined by individual as well as environmental factors and that they are interrelated [10,11]. Little is known about these individual-environment interactions

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