Physical Activity Environment Research Articles

4.P. Workshop: Health promotion policy implementation evaluation: tools, challenges and futures directions

Abstract Background Public policies can enhance opportunities for the whole populations to be more health promoting. They are important tools as they tackle the upstream component of health promotion behaviours to influence the environment and opportunities for the general population. Research has focused on policy development and content, but less on its implementation process and s evaluation. These latter steps are necessary for policy accountability, would serve policy-making process and strengthen policy impact for real change. Objectives The objectives of the workshop are to present different methods and toolkits allowing the evaluation of policy implementation at national level. Workshop format The workshop will include 4 presentations, with two systematic reviews and two tool presentation, to offer opportunities to the audience to understand both theoretical and methodological perspective and applied process in regard to health promotion policy evaluation and implementation evaluation. First, a systematic literature review considering the fitting framework for implementation of policies promoting health nutrition and physically active lifestyle will describe the components and scope of 18 policy implementation frameworks. Second, a systematic literature review on methods of physical activity policy monitoring will help us to learn from the analysis of 112 studies on research-driven, government-driven or co-production approaches, their strengths and weaknesses. The third presentation will introduce the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index, a tool to monitor and benchmark policies to improve the healthiness of physical activity policy environment, as well as provide guidance on how to use it. The fourth presentation will present the health promoting sports clubs national audit tool, aimed at reviewing policy supporting sports clubs to promote health, and present preliminary results from its use in Ireland. During the presentation we will pose questions to the audience, encouraging them to apply the theory/tools to their own context, and to spark conversation and interaction as part of the workshop. After the presentations, questions from the audience will be discussed with each presenter, and a discussion will be open in terms of future challenges for health promotion policies implementation evaluation. Key messages • Guidance is needed to evaluate health promotion policies implementation to improve practice, as well as development of framework and methods to build toolkits. • Policy implementation evaluation is key for improving policy making process.

Relationship between teacher fidelity to an early childhood obesity prevention program and the Child care center nutrition and physical activity environment

BackgroundChild care centers (CCC) can be strategic settings to establish healthy lifestyle behaviors through obesity prevention programs. Fidelity to the implementation of such programs is a vital evaluation component, but is often not measured. This study assessed CCC teacher fidelity to the implementation of “Healthy Caregivers, Healthy Children (HC2)”, a CCC-based obesity prevention intervention. MethodsCCCs serving low-resource, ethnically diverse families with ≥ 50 children ages 2-to-5 years old that were randomized to the HC2 intervention and that had teacher fidelity data collected (n = 9 CCC) were included in this analysis. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool assessed the CCC nutrition and physical activity (PA) environment at the beginning/end of the school year. Fidelity assessments were conducted in CCCs randomized to HC2 in Spring 2016 (n = 33 teachers) and 2017 (n = 39 teachers) by a trained observer. The relationship between teacher fidelity and EPAO was assessed via mixed models. ResultsFor every-one unit rise in teacher fidelity, EPAO nutrition increased 0.055 points (p =.006). No significant relationship was shown between teacher fidelity and EPAO PA score (p =.14). ConclusionTeacher fidelity to obesity prevention program implementation may support a healthy CCC obesity prevention and nutrition environment but might require continued support for all components.

Barriers and facilitators of physical activity in children with bronchiectasis: Perspectives from children and parents.

BackgroundCurrent bronchiectasis management guidelines recommend regular physical activity but a large proportion of children with bronchiectasis do not meet public health recommendations which call for 60 min or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity daily. Knowing the factors that influence physical activity in children with bronchiectasis is necessary for the development of effective interventions to increase physical activity in this patient group. The objective of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers to physical activity in children with bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis (CF) from the perspectives of children and their parents.Materials and methodsThis was a qualitative study informed by the theoretical domains framework (TDF). Children aged 7–15 years (8.8 years, 8.4–11.0) (median, interquartile range) and parents (45.8 years, 39.7–48.3) completed separate, semi-structured interviews (n = 21). Recordings were transcribed verbatim, and barriers and facilitators related to each TDF domain deductively coded. Emergent themes were inductively derived via consensus moderation.ResultsFrom the perspectives of children, fun with friends, organized sport and activities, and family co-participation in physical activity emerged as facilitators. Inability to keep up with their peers and time on technology emerged as barriers. From the perspectives of parents, instrumental and logistic support for physical activity and supportive social and physical activity environments emerged as facilitators, while management of symptoms associated with bronchiectasis emerged as a barrier.ConclusionPrograms to increase physical activity in children with bronchiectasis should be fun, accessible, provide opportunities for social interaction and address barriers related to exercise tolerance, perceived competence, and presence of respiratory symptoms.

The impact of urban walking on psychophysiological wellbeing

ABSTRACT Research indicates benefits to psychophysiological wellbeing from walking in urban green space compared to other built settings. This study builds on research in older adults extending the protocol to healthy adults (n = 40, mean age = 42 years) exploring the impacts of walking in varying environmental conditions on psychophysiological outcomes (mood, working-memory and heart rate variability (HRV)). Participants undertook a short (20–30 minute) walk in both an urban green and gray setting, one week apart, with varying levels of air pollution and heat. Walking in the urban green setting increased positive mood and HRV (suggesting positive impact on physiological stress) and decreased self-reported stress and arousal. Thermal sensation in the urban green setting was lower compared to the urban gray setting. Our results build on evidence that there are potential beneficial effects of urban green settings with respect to heat and particulate matter (PM2.5). These results show psychophysiological benefits of short walks within urban green settings, during the pandemic, which has implications for public health and how we engage with our local environments for physical activity.

Relative reinforcement from physical activity in real-world environments: a novel application of behavioral economics.

Behavioral economics suggests that individuals are likely to engage in a behavior if it is more reinforcing and readily available than other possible options. In real-world environments, sedentary behaviors are often more reinforcing and easily available than physical activities. In order to promote regular physical activity in an environment with sedentary alternatives, it is important to understand the proportion of overall reinforcement that is derived from physical activity (i.e., relative reinforcement, RR). Conceptually similar laboratory-research supports this notion, but applications to individual, real-world environments remain understudied. The current study used a novel survey-based approach to estimate the RR of common physical activities. Healthy adults (N = 348, M age = 39.0 ± 8.7) from the United States completed an online survey between April–May 2020, including a modified activity survey with ten physically active and ten sedentary activities. Regression analysis showed that total RR of physical activity was related to greater physical activity levels when controlling for enjoyment and other covariates. Four factors were identified (household, conditioning, sports, and outdoor activities) using exploratory structural equation modeling, but internal consistency was limited when items were constrained to each factor in the structural equation model. Previous laboratory findings on overall RR of physical activity were replicated with the survey-based measure, but further improvement for relative reinforcement of different sub-domains of physical activity is needed. Researchers and practitioners can use this survey to determine attractive physical activities on the individual level that can compete with sedentary leisure activities.

Validation and Improvement of the Dutch Obesogenic Built Environment Characteristics Index

BACKGROUND AND AIM Neighbourhood characteristics can influence physical activity and dietary behaviours, and therefore impact body weight. Characterizing neighbourhoods in terms of their ‘obesogenicity’ has useful applications in research and policymaking. Our study aimed to (1) develop a basic Obesogenic Built environment CharacterisTics (OBCT) index quantifying obesogenicity of all neighbourhoods in the Netherlands and (2) examine the associations between the index and overweight in a large population survey. METHODS The basic OBCT index consists of 20 equally-weighted components from both the food (densities of five food outlet types and an overall healthiness score) and physical activity environments (walkability, drivability, bikeability and sports facilities). We linked the index to residential addresses of 258,552 adult participants (>18 years old) of the Dutch Health Monitor, a nationwide cross-sectional survey in 2016; and analyzed the index by logistic regression against odds of overweight (BMI>25.0kg/m²), adjusting for individual demographic characteristics. Effect modification by age, sex and urbanicity was examined. RESULTS The OBCT index ranged from 0 (leptogenic) to 100 (obesogenic) across all Dutch neighbourhoods (mean=55.7, SD=10.5 for surveyed individuals). Mean BMI was 26.0 (SD=4.26) kg/m² with an oversampling of older adults >65 years old (n=131,296). The odds ratio (OR) of overweight per 10% increase in obesogenicity was 1.01 (95%CI:1.00-1.01) in a fully adjusted model, which was significantly higher for older adults (OR: 1.02, 95%CI:1.01-1.03) compared to those <65 years old (OR:1.00, 95%CI:0.99 -1.01). Associations were also significantly stronger for rural (OR:1.04, 95%CI:1.02-1.05) compared to urban residents (OR:1.00, 95%CI:0.98-1.01) but not for sex. CONCLUSION The basic OBCT index had limited association with BMI outcomes. As improvement, individual components of the index will be reweighted using four data-driven methods: logistic regression, supervised principle component, random forest, and data envelopment analysis. Results of these modified weights in terms of predictive power for the resulting indices will be presented.

Mapping the complex systems that connects the urban environment to cognitive decline in older adults: a group model building study

Background and aim: The number of people living with dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is increasing. A supportive urban environment can prevent or delay the progress of cognitive decline. There is evidence for the existence of mechanistic pathways between the urban environment and cognitive decline, but the interrelations between these pathways are unclear. In this study, we aimed to map the mechanistic pathways by which urban environment factors impact cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: This study was part of the Supportive environments for Physical and social Activity, healthy ageing and CognitivE health (SPACE) project. A 2-day workshop with the SPACE investigators was conducted based on the Group Model Building (GMB) methodology. The workshop aimed to create a causal-loop diagram (CLD) that identifies established and potential urban environment, lifestyle, health, and physiological determinants of cognitive decline in older adults. A facilitation team guided the activities. The workshop was held online following appropriately adapted scripts. After the workshop, the modelling team reviewed the CLD to ensure that main potential causal pathways and mechanisms were captured. Results: During the workshop, 12 experts from 10 different disciplines identified 83 factors and 221 connections between them. After review, the CLD presented 50 factors and 154 connections. All factors were classified in 10 main groups: urban design, social environment, travel behaviours, urban design by-products, lifestyle, disease/physiology, mental health conditions, exogenous factors, and cognitive decline outcomes. The main output was a CLD of the complex system of how the urban environment can influence cognitive decline in older adults. Conclusions: The CLD detailed the plausible causal pathways between the urban environment and cognitive decline. Our findings suggested that GMB can engage experts and help them view problems through the lens of complex systems. Keywords: cognitive decline, urban environment, group model building

Challenges accessing physical activity from a transgender perspective: A systematic review

The gender-diverse community faces numerous barriers that make physical activity difficult to access, meaning they are less physically active than their cisgender counterparts, compounding the existing health and wellbeing inequalities experienced by this group. The current study conducted a systematic review of sporadic literature relating to trans, non-binary and intersex people’s experience of physical activity with the aim of understanding how individuals negotiate and experience physical activity environments. A systematic searching of 8 databases and screening highlighted 30 academic papers for review. A narrative synthesis of the experiences of trans, non-binary and intersex individuals formed a three-layer model of influence. The first layer encapsulated the systemic and systemic influences such as transphobia and trans-moral panic. The second layer included external influences such as others’ behaviour, gendered spaces and exclusionary policies. The third layer was made up of internal influences such as internalised transphobia and gender concealment. The focus on fitting gender non-conforming individuals into a binary system through gendered spaces, pressures to switch teams and provide ‘proof’ of gender conformity set a dangerous precedent of the physical activity space as an unwelcoming and unsafe place for those who do not conform to the gender binary. If there should be a hope to address the health inequalities faced by the trans, non-binary and intersex community, the focus must move away from conformity and the debate of ‘fairness’ towards true inclusion and creating an environment where gender minorities can feel safe to engage with physical activity.

Physical activity and academic achievement: an analysis of potential student- and school-level moderators

BackgroundMany children do not engage in sufficient physical activity, and schools provide a unique venue for children to reach their recommended 60 daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Prior research examining effects of MVPA on academic achievement is inconclusive, and few studies have investigated potential moderators of this relationship. This study examined whether student-level characteristics (gender, race/ethnicity, free/reduced-price lunch status) and school-level characteristics (proportion of students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch, physical activity environment and opportunities) moderate the relationship between MVPA and academic achievement.MethodsIn a large, diverse metropolitan public school district in Georgia, 4,936 students in Grade 4 were recruited from 40 elementary schools. Students wore accelerometers to measure school-day MVPA for a total of 15 days across three semesters (fall 2018, spring 2019, fall 2019). Academic achievement data, including course marks (grades) for math, reading, spelling, and standardized test scores in writing, math, reading, and Lexile (reading assessment), were collected at baseline (Grade 3, ages 8–9) and at follow-up in Grade 4 (ages 9–10). Standardized test scores were not measured in Grade 5 (ages 10–11) due to COVID-19-related disruptions. Multilevel modeling assessed whether student-level and/or school-level characteristics were moderators in the cross-sectional and longitudinal MVPA-academic achievement relationship.ResultsCross sectional analyses indicated that the MVPA and AA relationship was moderated only by student Hispanic ethnicity for Grade 4 fall spelling marks (β = -0.159 p < 0.001). The relationship for Grade 4 fall spelling marks was also moderated by school physical activity opportunities (β = -0.128 (p < 0.001). Longitudinally, there was no significant moderation of the MVPA-academic achievement. A relationship by student gender, free/reduced-price lunch status, race/ethnicity; nor for school-level factors including proportion of students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch, physical activity environment, and physical activity opportunities.ConclusionsOverall, our results did not suggest that student- or school-level characteristics moderate the MVPA-academic achievement relationship. While statistically significant results were observed for certain outcomes, practical differences were negligible. In this population, school-based MVPA does not appear to differently affect academic performance based on student gender, race/ethnicity, free/reduced-price lunch, nor school characteristics.Trial registrationThis study was registered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ClinicalTrials.gov system, with ID NCT03765047. Registered 05 December 2018—Retrospectively registered.

O1-2 Identification of existing audit instruments for the assessment of urban and rural physical activity environments

BackgroundAccording to a socio-ecological perspective, the neighbourhood environment plays a critical role in promoting physical activity across all population groups. A comprehensive assessment of environmental characteristics is a prerequisite to the planning, implementation and evaluation of physical activity interventions. This work aims to identify existing audit tools for the assessment of physical activity related environmental features in order to evaluate a) their applicability in the European context and b) their relevance in the urban and rural context.MethodsWithin the research project EUBeKo[1] we searched relevant websites (e. g. Active Living Research) and scientific databases (e. g. PubMed) in order to identify existing audit instruments. We then developed a categorization system for the integration of the topics and items retrieved from the identified tools. To reveal context-relevant strengths and weaknesses, we critically inspected the instruments with the support of the current scientific evidence and literature regarding eligibility to the European context and rural/urban applicability.ResultsWe identified 29 audit tools focusing on different topics and features influencing physical activity (e. g. infrastructure, barriers). Some also include aspects of the social environment (e. g. presence of people) or the subjective perception (e. g. walkability, aesthetics). We found that numerous tools contain aspects of the socio-ecological environment reflected on the item level that do not conform with European environmental characteristics (e. g. street signage, types of destinations). Furthermore, we identified an unequal distribution with few tools being developed explicitly for the rural context (n = 3).ConclusionsIt is challenging to rate the applicability and relevance of audit tools. We were able to develop a comprehensive categorization system that can assist researchers and practitioners in the selection of a suitable set of items for an optimized assessment of European physical activity environments. In addition, our work points out the need for an instrument reflecting urban and specifically rural peculiarities of the European context. The main purpose of the research project EUBeKo is to understand and systemize decision and implementation processes of policies and projects aiming to promote physical activity in the context of the built environment.

A Study on the Establishment of Physical Activity Environment for People with Disabilities in South Korea.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative importance and priority of what factors should be reflected in the administration to efficiently consider the needs of people with disabilities for the physical activity (PA) environment in South Korea. To achieve the purpose of the study, 32 experts (e.g., faculty members, administrators) with more than 5 years of experience with PA for people with disabilities were asked to prioritize the factors that should be reflected in the PA environment. The questionnaire consisted of 4 factors in the upper-layer (H2), 8 factors in the middle-layer (H3), and 38 items in the low-layer (H4). The research instrument was composed of a pairwise comparison of decision elements to analyze the priority. For the analysis of the questionnaire data, the relative importance and priority were analyzed using Expert Choice 2000, a solution dedicated to priority analysis. The results are as follows. The relative importance of H2 was determined by programs, instructors, facilities, and information. In the relative importance among H3, the program type was determined as the highest factor in the program, and instructor expertise was determined as the highest factor in the instructor. The type of facility was determined as the highest factor in the facility, and the information provider was determined as the highest factor in the information. As a result of analyzing the priority of H4, it was found that the program within the sports facilities had the highest priority.

O4-4 Relation between physical activity level and environment perception among older adults

IntroductionRegular physical activity (PA) is associated to a decrease in morbidity and mortality and to a better quality of life. The environment has been shown as an important factor in the adoption of an active lifestyle, especially among the elderly, since it may be the difference between a dependent or independent living and a better health status. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relation between the PA level and the environment perception of the elderly from a city in southern Brazil.MethodsThree neighborhoods of the city of Santa Maria, RS - Brazil were drawn to be part of the investigation, with low, medium and high socioeconomic levels. The sample had 202 subjects. An adapted version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire for the Brazilian elderly (Mazo & Benedetti, 2010) was used to evaluate PA level and a Portuguese version of the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale (Salvador et al, 2009) to evaluate environment perception. The statistical analyses were done by relative and absolute frequencies and logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of adequate PA levels was inferior to 30% in the three studied neighborhoods and the average of minutes spent with PA per week was 63.14 (±115.15). From the 41 variables considered in the environment perception, four had a p > 0.20 being selected for the multiple logistic regression model. The presences of fair and pedestrian crosswalks near home were the most influent factors on PA: the presence of fair increases 3.3 times the chance of the elderly being physically active and the crosswalks increase 2.7 times that chance.ConclusionA low prevalence of physically active elderly was observed in Santa Maria, which was also shown in other studies with similar samples. The variables that most positively influenced the older adults' PA levels were the presence of fair and pedestrian crosswalks, showing the importance of the creation and maintenance of environments that facilitate PA, as well as public policies that promote healthy and safe environments.

O6-2 Physical activity policy actions in Europe: the MOVING benchmarking tools

BackgroundGlobal research shows a strong link between physical activity and risk of developing non-communicable diseases. To increase physical activity levels, governments must design and implement a comprehensive set of policy actions across a range of areas. To aid governments in this process, the MOVING benchmarking tool was developed to assess the strength of policies across three domains that make up a comprehensive approach to physical activity policy.MethodsThe MOVING benchmarking tool, which was developed using a consultative process that reviewed evidence on physical activity policy design and existing benchmarking tools, built on the policy areas of the MOVING framework. It values the strength of policy design, based on evidence-informed and aspirational attributes of effective policy-making that impacts health-related behaviours, with a focus on adolescents. The tool was applied to a set of physical activity policies from five countries: Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal and UK. These countries were selected based on their participation in the EU-funded CO-CREATE project, which focuses on prevention of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Relevant physical activity policies in each participating country were identified based on a comprehensive scan, with a set methodology.ResultsThe MOVING benchmarks assessed the strengths and weaknesses in the design of policies across the policy areas of the MOVING policy framework. They produced an overall assessment of policy environments for physical activity across the five countries, as well as an assessment of each individual policy area within the framework, such as walking and cycling infrastructure and active transport. Further, by allowing a fast assessment of many physical activity policies, the benchmarking tool enabled an analysis of the interplay of single policies and drawing conclusions about the overall policy environment in the five countries.ConclusionThe MOVING benchmarking tools can identify gaps and assess the strength of actions taken by national governments to promote physical activity, and can be used by policymakers, researchers and civil society to inform advocacy for and design of policies. The scores generated by the benchmarking tool will be amalgamated into an overall policy index for 27 European countries.

S09-4 The development of the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a tool for monitoring and benchmarking government policies and actions to improve physical activity

Abstract Background Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a global issue for health. A multifaceted response, including government action, is essential to improve population levels of PA. The purpose of this study was to develop the ‘Physical Activity Environment Policy Index’ (PA-EPI) monitoring framework to assess government policies and actions for creating a healthy PA environment. Methods An iterative process was undertaken. This involved a review of policy documents from authoritative organisations, a policy audit of four European countries, and systematic reviews of scientific literature. This was followed by an online consultation with academic experts (N = 101; 20 countries, 72% response rate), and policymakers (N = 40, 4 EU countries). During this process, consensus workshops where quantitative and qualitative data alongside theoretical and pragmatic considerations were used to inform PA-EPI development. Results The PA-EPI is conceptualised as a two-component ‘policy’ and ‘infrastructure support’ framework. The two components comprise eight policy and seven infrastructure support domains. The policy domains are education, transport, urban design, healthcare, public education (including mass media), sport-for-all, workplaces and community. The infrastructure support domains are leadership, governance, monitoring and intelligence, funding and resources, platforms for interaction, workforce development, and health-in-all-policies. Forty-five ‘good practice statements’ (GPS) or indicators of ideal good practice within each domain concludes the PA-EPI. A potential eight-step process for conducting the PA-EPI is described. Conclusions Once pre-tested and piloted in several countries of various sizes and income levels, the PA-EPI GPS will evolve into benchmarks established by governments at the forefront of creating and implementing policies to address inactivity.

S09 Insights into the development of the physical activity environment policy index, a tool for benchmarking implementation of public policies to create healthy physical activity policy environments

The UN Sustainable Development Goals' (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/) and the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (https://www.who.int/ncds/prevention/physical-activity/gappa) highlight the need to move beyond individual behaviour change to broader policy and system approaches, focusing not only on health but also on sustainability. Recently, policy responses to the epidemics of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour have grown. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA) reports that by 2013, 139 countries were members of its physical activity advocacy alliance and 26.6% of these countries had already published a stand-alone physical activity plan. The ‘Policy Evaluation Network' is a multi-disciplinary European research network aimed at understanding the impact of public policy for promoting healthy lifestyles in an effort to prevent non-communicable disease. To understand the progress governments are making in creating healthy policy environments, the benchmarking of best practice has proven effective for advancing the food policy agenda; however its usefulness for physical activity requires evaluation. Individual country results promote mutual learning between countries. This symposium will take a deep look at public policy in physical activity. It will summarise evidence from systematic literature reviews and present a tool for benchmarking progress. It will also discuss the potential next steps for addressing the inactivity, obesity and climate challenges through policy solutions in a systematic way.The Chair will give an overview of context within which this symposium takes place e.g. GAPPA, Policy developments etc. They will also explain the symposium's purpose and objectives, introduce the speakers and direct questions. Symposium Objectives 1. To review evidence for the contribution of transport, sport and mass media policy to the promotion of physical activity.2. To show how evidence generate in each of these reviews contributed to the development of the physical activity environment policy index (PA-EPI).3. To discuss the next steps for addressing inactivity by using policy intervention as a tool to catalyse change. 1: Which transport policies increase physical activity of the whole of society? A Systematic Review. 2: The impact of mass-media campaigns on physical activity: a review of reviews through a policy lens. 3: Evidence of the impact of Sport Policies on physical activity and sport participation: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review. 4: The development of the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a tool for monitoring and benchmarking government policies and actions to improve physical activity.The Discussant summarizes the presentations and provides insights on the specific topic area, generating an interactive discussion with the audience for at least 15 minutes, moderated by the Chair. (15 minutes) Conclusions: Some discussion of the possible contribution to, or implications for, the advancement of HEPA related goals.

Location-specific psychosocial and environmental correlates of physical activity and sedentary time in young adolescents: preliminary evidence for location-specific approaches from a cross-sectional observational study

BackgroundA better understanding of the extent to which psychosocial and environmental correlates of physical activity are specific to locations would inform intervention optimization.PurposeTo investigate cross-sectional associations of location-general and location-specific variables with physical activity and sedentary time in three common locations adolescents spend time.MethodsAdolescents (N = 472,Mage = 14.1,SD = 1.5) wore an accelerometer and global positioning systems (GPS) tracker and self-reported on psychosocial (e.g., self-efficacy) and environmental (e.g., equipment) factors relevant to physical activity and sedentary time. We categorized each survey item based on whether it was specific to a location to generate psychosocial and environmental indices that were location-general or specific to either school, non-school, or home location. Physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time were based on time/location match to home, school, or all “other” locations. Mixed-effects models investigated the relation of each index with location-specific activity.ResultsThe location-general and non-school physical activity psychosocial indices were related to greater MVPA at school and “other” locations. The school physical activity environment index was related to greater MVPA and less sedentary time at school. The home activity environment index was related to greater MVPA at home. The non-school sedentary psychosocial index was related to less sedentary time at home. Interactions among indices revealed adolescents with low support on one index benefited (i.e., exhibited more optimal behavior) from high support on another index (e.g., higher scores on the location-general PA psychosocial index moderated lower scores on the home PA environment index). Concurrent high support on two indices did not provide additional benefit.ConclusionsNo psychosocial or environment indices, including location-general indices, were related to activity in all locations. Most of the location-specific indices were associated with activity in the matching location(s). These findings provide preliminary evidence that psychosocial and environmental correlates of activity are location specific. Future studies should further develop location-specific measures and evaluate these constructs and whether interventions may be optimized by targeting location-specific psychosocial and environmental variables across multiple locations.

Plan for healthy neighborhoods to improve mental wellbeing: a pilot study in Fresno, California

By using data collected from a self-administered survey, this study evaluates the variation of mental wellbeing between individuals and neighborhoods and its personal and neighborhood determinants in Fresno, California. It reveals the disparities of mental wellbeing, physical activity, and neighborhood environment between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged neighborhoods in Fresno. Residents in disadvantaged neighborhoods report slightly lower levels of mental wellbeing and physical activity, significantly weaker neighborhood social capital, and much lower neighborhood environment quality. Our path analysis suggests that outdoor physical activity and perceived neighborhood social capital are the only two factors that influence mental wellbeing after controlling for personal socioeconomics and personality. Neither perceived nor objectively measured neighborhood environmental factors show significant and direct impacts on mental wellbeing. Neighborhood environment, however, shows indirect associations with mental wellbeing through their correlations with outdoor physical activity and perceived neighborhood social capital.

Feeding and Activity Environments for Infants and Toddlers in Childcare Centers and Family Childcare Homes in Southeastern New England.

Few studies have documented the food and physical activity (PA) environments of childcare settings caring for children <24 months of age, although they may be key contributors to developing child PA and diet patterns. We used an adapted Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation tool to assess the food and activity environments for infants and toddlers in childcare centers (n = 21) and family childcare homes (FCCH) (n = 20) and explored differences by childcare type. Many similarities were found between childcare site types; however, centers used more recommended feeding practices than FCCH (e.g., 100% of center providers talked with toddlers about feelings of hunger or fullness compared to 18% of family childcare providers (FCCP), p < 0.01). Differences in non-recommended feeding practices (e.g., spoon feeding, bottle propping and encouraging unhealthy foods) were mixed between childcare types. Toddlers in centers spent more time playing at higher PA levels than those in FCCH (61 vs. 13 min, p < 0.001). Screen time was observed in FCCH, but not in centers. Differences between childcare types may indicate differential influences on infant and toddler feeding and PA behaviors, which could predict disparate obesity risk. Future research should further observe these behaviors in a larger sample of centers and FCCH to inform childcare interventions and policies.

The Importance Of Physical Activity And Community Participation Amongst Women For A Better Quality Of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study of Indonesia Family Life Survey

Background:The quality of life differs according to individual characteristics and social life. Employment status impacts women's role in family and society. Income influences many aspects of women's lives. This research was designed to compare the quality of life of employed women with unemployed womens. This study is quantitative research in public health to determine the quality of life of employed women and unemployed womens. This study used data from the Indonesia Family Life Survey in 2014. The first (IFLS1) wave was conducted in 1993–1994. The survey individuals represented almost 83% of the Indonesian population residing in 13 of the country’s 26 provinces. IFLS5 was carried out in 2014-2015 and the individual re-contact rate was 90.5%. The number of women in the 2014 IFLS data aged 22-55 years who were not attending school is 10,661. Subjects with complete data in this study were 7169. Primary activities during the past week such as being employed and homemakers were eligible criteria. The average QoL score of employed women was higher than unemployed womens, with the mean difference was 0.019. The person correlation reveals no differences in overall QoL for both groups. Despite the Pearson correlation test revealing no significant difference in overall quality of life, employed women rated higher scores for almost dimensions of quality of life (well-being, general health, physical activity, social participation, religion, and social environment). The current study identified significant differences in physical activity and community participation for the two groups. The quality of life of employed women is better than unemployed. This study provides the ensuing practical implications regarding regular physical activity and getting involved in community programs. It is necessary to strengthen the support system. Furthermore, health promotion is essential for women to take responsibility for chores and achieve social support by engaging in community activities.

An ecological dynamics perspective on designing urban nature environments for wellbeing and health-enhancing physical activity

The latest World Health Organization report on green and blue space and mental health (2021) calls for greater, and better, urban nature environments, i. e., “wilder” urban parks, tree-laden sidewalks, and overall presence of nature in the urban environment. Evidence shows that living close to and interacting with nature promotes benefits to numerous health and well-being indicators. The present article narratively reviews what are the aspects of urban nature environments that enhance health and wellbeing markers, which aspects are preferred among users and visitors of urban nature environments, and how can the benefits for health and wellbeing be understood from a theoretical perspective. Finally, guided by the ecological dynamics framework, suggestions are put forward on how designers and planners of urban nature environments can consider affordances to promote physical activity behavior, health and wellbeing; and how exercise and health researchers and professionals may channel the interaction of individuals with the nature environment in their interventions and programs.