The relationship of area-level sociodemographic characteristics, household composition and individual-level socioeconomic status on walking behavior among adults

Mary O Hearst,Ann Forsyth,John R Sirard,Leslie A Lytle,Christine G Green,Elizabeth G Klein,Emily D Parker

doi:10.1016/j.tra.2013.01.006

Abstract

Understanding the contextual factors associated with why adults walk is important for those interested in increasing walking as a mode of transportation and leisure. This paper investigates the relationships between neighborhood-level sociodemographic context, individual level sociodemographic characteristics and walking for leisure and transport. Data from two community-based studies of adults (n=550) were used to determine the association between the Area Sociodemographic Environment (ASDE), calculated from U.S. Census variables, and individual-level SES as potential correlates of walking behavior. Descriptive statistics, mean comparisons and Pearson’s correlations coefficients were used to assess bivariate relationships. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the relationship between ASDE, as quartiles, and walking behavior. Adjusted models suggest adults engage in more minutes of walking for transportation and less walking for leisure in the most disadvantaged compared to the least disadvantaged neighborhoods but adding individual level demographics and SES eliminated the significant results. However, when models were stratified for free or reduced cost lunch, of those with children who qualified for free or reduced lunch, those who lived in the wealthiest neighborhoods engaged in 10.7min less of total walking per day compared to those living in the most challenged neighborhoods (p<0.001). Strategies to increase walking for transportation or leisure need to take account of individual level socioeconomic factors in addition to area-level measures.

Highlights

Understanding walking patterns is important because overweight and obesity among adults in the United States is at critical levels
Participants reported total walking minutes per day (TMD=89); total minutes per day of leisure walking (LMD=28); travel walking minutes per day (TRMD=22) with the balance of 39 minutes composed of walking for other purposes such as job-related walking
There were no significant differences in walking by education level there was a trend for less leisure walking for individuals reporting at least a college education

Summary

Introduction

Understanding walking patterns is important because overweight and obesity among adults in the United States is at critical levels. One important cause of obesity is inadequate levels of physical activity. The 2008 National Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week (U.S Department of Health and Human Services 2008). Despite this recommendation, 25% of adults in the US report no leisure-time physical activity (MMWR 2008). Walking three times per day in 10 minute bursts of brisk walking, as may be typical of walking for transportation, can meet national daily physical activity recommendations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2008)

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