Abstract
Street connectivity, defined as how well streets connect to one and other and the density of intersections, is positively associated with active transportation in adults. Our objective was to study the relation between street connectivity and physical activity in youth. Study participants consisted of 8,535 students in grades 6–10 from 180 schools across Canada who completed the 2006 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey. Street connectivity was measured in a 5 km circular buffer around these schools using established geographic information system measures. Physical activity performed outside of school hours was assessed by questionnaire, and multi-level regression analyses were used to estimate associations with street connectivity after controlling for several covariates. Compared to students living in the highest street connectivity quartile, those in the second (relative risk = 1.22, 95% confidence interval = 1.10–1.35), third (1.25, 1.13–1.37), and fourth (1.21, 1.09–1.34) quartiles were more likely to be physically active outside of school. In conclusion, youth in neighbourhoods with the most highly connected streets reported less physical activity outside of school than youth from neighbourhoods with less connected streets. Relationships between street connectivity and physical activity reported in this national study are in the opposite direction to those previously observed for active transportation in adult populations.
Highlights
A physically active lifestyle is an important determinant of the physical and mental health of children and youth [1]
We developed a hierarchical series of multivariate models following a systematic approach: (1) Model 1 controlled for all individual-level covariates; (2) Model 2 controlled for all individual-level and area-level covariates; (3) Model 3 was fit using individual-level and area-level covariates; non-significant (p < 0.05) covariates were removed from the model using backwards elimination selection
40.7% of students in the lowest family socioeconomic status (SES) group resided in a neighborhood in the highest street connectivity quartile as compared to
Summary
A physically active lifestyle is an important determinant of the physical and mental health of children and youth [1]. To develop effective public health policies and interventions to improve the physical activity levels of our children and youth it is essential to understand the determinants of this behaviour. The built environment is comprised of aspects of the physical surroundings in which we live our daily lives. These physical surroundings can help or hinder our desire and ability to engage in physical activity. One aspect of the built environment that may impact physical activity is a construct called street connectivity. Connected street networks could make it more efficient and easier to walk or bicycle from one place to another (e.g., more direct routes, shorter travel distance)
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