Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity Among Children, Adolescents, and Parents

Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity Among Children, Adolescents, and Parents PDF Author: Stephen Grant Samuel Hunter
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Exercise
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Background: Most Canadians are inactive. Given insufficient physical activity is linked to multiple chronic diseases and mortality, increasing physical activity has become a public health priority. To inform future interventions, modifiable correlates and determinants of physical activity need to be identified. Local, national, and international policy documents have highlighted the importance of creating active living environments that promote regular physical activity. While several behvioural settings exist, neighbourhoods provide opportunities for both structured and unstructured physical activity opportunities for multiple ages. However, before modifying existing environments or developing new active living environments, it is first important to consider the features that promote physical activity. Further, for active living environments to have a sustainable impact, identifying features that promote physical activity across multiple ages groups is important. Therefore, the overall purpose of this dissertation is to identify environmental correlates of physical activity across multiple age groups (preschool children, school-aged children, adolescents, adults) within the neighbourhood setting. Methods: Three studies were conducted. In study one, parents were surveyed regarding the features of their neighbourhood environment that they perceived as important to their own physical activity as well as their children's physical activity and parent-child coactivity. In study two, associations of objectively measured walkability and parental perceptions of the environment with children's physical activity (i.e., daily step counts, parent reported physical activity) were examined using data from the SHAPES of Things to Come project. In study three, the longitudinal associations between the objectively measured built environment surrounding schools and self-reported physical activity and active mode of transport among adolescents were examined using data from the COMPASS project. Results: In study 1, several neighbourhood features, related to destinations, design, social, safety and aesthetics, were identified by the majority of parents as important for their own physical activity, their child's active play, and parent-child coactivity. There were several significant differences in the proportions of parents who identified features as relevant between activity types (parent physical activity, child active play, parent-child coactivity). Few differences were observed by household income. In study two, objectively measured walkability was not associated with children's steps or parent reported physical activity. However, significant associations were observed for neighbourhood aesthetics and traffic hazards with parental reported physical activity, along with walking and cycling infrastructure during the winter months. In study 3, significant associations were observed between retail-, park-, and recreation center- densities along with Walk Scores in the school neighbourhood environment with adolescent MVPA and active school travel. Students attending schools in environments considered very walkable had an increased likelihood of active school travel and maintained higher MVPA over time. Conclusion: Across all three studies, there is evidence to suggest features that support walking is important for preschool children's active play, parents' recreational physical activity and coactivity with their children, along with school-aged children's parent reported physical activity, and adolescent's self-reported active school travel and MVPA. Finding ways to incorporate features that support walking into home and school neighbourhoods could promote physical activity across age groups. More longitudinal research that accounts for behavioural and context-specificity, multiple activity settings and their characteristics, and intra- and inter- personal characteristics is needed.

Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity Among Children, Adolescents, and Parents

Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity Among Children, Adolescents, and Parents PDF Author: Stephen Grant Samuel Hunter
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Exercise
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Background: Most Canadians are inactive. Given insufficient physical activity is linked to multiple chronic diseases and mortality, increasing physical activity has become a public health priority. To inform future interventions, modifiable correlates and determinants of physical activity need to be identified. Local, national, and international policy documents have highlighted the importance of creating active living environments that promote regular physical activity. While several behvioural settings exist, neighbourhoods provide opportunities for both structured and unstructured physical activity opportunities for multiple ages. However, before modifying existing environments or developing new active living environments, it is first important to consider the features that promote physical activity. Further, for active living environments to have a sustainable impact, identifying features that promote physical activity across multiple ages groups is important. Therefore, the overall purpose of this dissertation is to identify environmental correlates of physical activity across multiple age groups (preschool children, school-aged children, adolescents, adults) within the neighbourhood setting. Methods: Three studies were conducted. In study one, parents were surveyed regarding the features of their neighbourhood environment that they perceived as important to their own physical activity as well as their children's physical activity and parent-child coactivity. In study two, associations of objectively measured walkability and parental perceptions of the environment with children's physical activity (i.e., daily step counts, parent reported physical activity) were examined using data from the SHAPES of Things to Come project. In study three, the longitudinal associations between the objectively measured built environment surrounding schools and self-reported physical activity and active mode of transport among adolescents were examined using data from the COMPASS project. Results: In study 1, several neighbourhood features, related to destinations, design, social, safety and aesthetics, were identified by the majority of parents as important for their own physical activity, their child's active play, and parent-child coactivity. There were several significant differences in the proportions of parents who identified features as relevant between activity types (parent physical activity, child active play, parent-child coactivity). Few differences were observed by household income. In study two, objectively measured walkability was not associated with children's steps or parent reported physical activity. However, significant associations were observed for neighbourhood aesthetics and traffic hazards with parental reported physical activity, along with walking and cycling infrastructure during the winter months. In study 3, significant associations were observed between retail-, park-, and recreation center- densities along with Walk Scores in the school neighbourhood environment with adolescent MVPA and active school travel. Students attending schools in environments considered very walkable had an increased likelihood of active school travel and maintained higher MVPA over time. Conclusion: Across all three studies, there is evidence to suggest features that support walking is important for preschool children's active play, parents' recreational physical activity and coactivity with their children, along with school-aged children's parent reported physical activity, and adolescent's self-reported active school travel and MVPA. Finding ways to incorporate features that support walking into home and school neighbourhoods could promote physical activity across age groups. More longitudinal research that accounts for behavioural and context-specificity, multiple activity settings and their characteristics, and intra- and inter- personal characteristics is needed.

Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in Minimally Active Adolescent Females

Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in Minimally Active Adolescent Females PDF Author: Genevieve Fridlund Dunton
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Exercise
Languages : en
Pages : 86

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Book Description


Personal, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in a Bi-ethnic Sample of Adolescents

Personal, Social, and Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in a Bi-ethnic Sample of Adolescents PDF Author: Charles Morgan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Exercise for youth
Languages : en
Pages : 90

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Book Description


Advances in Exercise Adherence

Advances in Exercise Adherence PDF Author: Rod K. Dishman
Publisher: Human Kinetics Publishers
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
This text examines trends in physical activity, aerobic fitness in teenagers and older adults, the role of physical activity in weight loss, new technology, marketing techniques and perspectives on behaviour intervention strategies in exercise programming and views on habitual exercise.

Applied Exercise Psychology

Applied Exercise Psychology PDF Author: Selen Razon
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134462441
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 664

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Book Description
Applied Exercise Psychology emphasizes the application of evidence-based knowledge drawn from the fields of exercise psychology, health psychology, clinical and counseling psychology, and exercise physiology for physical activity behavior change. The book provides readers with: theoretical bases for understanding and promoting physical activity behavior; interventions to use for facilitating physical activity behavior change and the tools for measuring the effectiveness of these interventions; cross-cultural considerations for practitioners to ensure multicultural competency; considerations to guide best practices with special populations (e.g., persons with medical conditions and persons with mental health conditions); overall applied implications and future directions. The collection builds a bridge between up-to-date research findings, relevant field experiences, and applied implications. This is the first book to cover such breadth of topics in applied exercise psychology, with chapters bringing often overlooked issues to the attention of practitioners to promote not only evidence-based practice but also responsible ethics and referral.

U.S. Health in International Perspective

U.S. Health in International Perspective PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309264146
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 421

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Book Description
The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Use of Public Open Space for Physical Activity

Environmental Correlates of Adolescent Use of Public Open Space for Physical Activity PDF Author: Nicole Edwards
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Environmental correlates of physical activity behaviour have received much attention in the public health, geography, urban design, planning and transport literature over the past decade. Adolescents are an important age group to consider, given habits developed in childhood can potentially track into adulthood. This is an age where young people begin to have independent mobility, which has been associated with increased physical activity levels. The built environment is consistently associated with physical activity behaviours among adolescents. However, gaps in knowledge exist around which environmental features influence adolescent physical activity. Moreover, very little research has been undertaken on adolescents living in regional or rural areas.To date, proximity to parks (often measured as the closest park to a study participant's residence) and availability of facilities have often been examined as correlates of physical activity participation. Park attributes, that make parks more desirable to adults, have been identified and an attractiveness score has been developed in accordance with adult park use. Yet, there appears to be no published research that has identified which attributes of a park (in isolation or combination) make a park more appealing for adolescents to use for physical activity. Moreover, rarely has a study looked at the attributes of parks that have actually been reported as being used by study participants.Methods used to audit parks have traditionally relied on site visits to subjectively measure park attributes. This method of park auditing can be costly and time consuming. As such, a more objective method that eliminates the need for site visits could potentially advance research methods associated with the built environment and physical activity participation. Indeed, the use of geographic information systems (GIS) enables remote-assessment methods and the opportunity to measure park attributes in a more objective fashion.The overarching aims of this research were to investigate the environmental factors related to adolescent 'park and beach use' and physical activity and in doing so, develop environmental measures relevant to adolescent physical activity.

Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior

Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior PDF Author: Alan L. Smith
Publisher: Human Kinetics
ISBN: 1492584282
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 516

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Book Description
As interest in the public health challenge of youth inactivity increases, the ambitious Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior sets a standard for addressing a problem with worldwide implications. Drawing on the contributions of a diverse group of international experts, this reference challenges professionals, researchers, and students to implement new solutions and further their research and work. No other text addresses the causes, contributing factors, and fundamental issues in dealing with youth physical activity with such depth or comprehensive coverage. Using a multidisciplinary approach, Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior breaks away from traditional thinking that places activity and sedentary behavior on a single continuum, which may limit progress in addressing youth inactivity. Instead, the authors encourage readers to focus on how sedentary and physically active behaviors coexist and consider how the two behaviors may have different determinants. In doing so, the text also considers developmental features such as maturation, ethnicity, environment, and genetics across both childhood (through age 12) and adolescence (the teen years). By looking at a variety of psychosocial and epidemiological factors, the authors set the stage for a critical analysis of beliefs and views at a time when many assumptions are taken for granted. This book is organized in three parts that build on one another to deepen readers’ understanding of this complex problem. This text begins by addressing the fundamental issues and assumptions pertaining to youth physical activity and sedentary behavior, covering such topics as measurement of the behavior in question, health outcomes, concepts, and trends in a public health context. Once readers have grasped this foundational knowledge, they advance to part II for a comprehensive account of personal factors likely to be associated with the problem. Part III moves beyond the individual into the wider social and contextual aspects of physically active and sedentary living in young people. Through this concluding part, readers gain the latest thinking on how parents, peers, schools, organized sport, and related factors link to youth physical activity and sedentary behavior. Each chapter presents the latest theory and research, real-world approaches to implementation, and background information to encourage discussion and future directions in national policy making. Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior also contains the following features that add to an unprecedented learning experience: •An at-a-glance look at why and how research can be used in the real world helps researchers relate their work to overall solutions. •Coverage of more issues related to this subject than are available in any other reference makes this a one-stop resource. •Internationally respected foreword writer, editors, and contributors provide a cross-disciplinary perspective valuable for putting solutions into a wider context. •Applications for Professionals boxes and Applications for Researchers boxes at the end of each chapter provide practical suggestions for implementing solutions. Youth Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior: Challenges and Solutions considers current research about youth physical activity and sedentary behavior across a range of personal factors as well as cultural and social influences. The text communicates the knowledge base on developmental, economic, psychological, and social factors related to youth physical activity and sedentary behavior and provides an overview of youth-specific approaches to addressing the problem of inactivity among youth.

Physical Activity and Behavioral Medicine

Physical Activity and Behavioral Medicine PDF Author: James F. Sallis
Publisher: SAGE Publications
ISBN: 1452263698
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 242

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Book Description
What type, amount, and intensity of physical activity is good for your health? How much exercise is too much? Can avoiding physical activity make you ill or lead to premature death? This crisply written and thought-provoking book examines such issues to give readers the first integrated and consolidated introduction to what is known about the impact of physical activity on health. By selectively highlighting some of the best and most important research in physical activity, the authors synthesize studies and theory from several disciplines. They use a behavioral-epidemiology framework to organize the book and explore such topics as: physical activity and the health of children, adolescents, and the elderly; physical activity and its impact on mental health; the role of physical activity in prevention of particular diseases; health risks of physical activity; and how much physical activity is enough and how to measure it; how to promote physical activity and community-based physical activity interventions. Throughout the book, the authors offer studies of diverse populations, including different ethnic backgrounds and nationalities, and different gender groups, and different socioeconomic levels. Although the health benefits of physical activity are fairly well-known, this book furthers our understanding of how to help people become active enough to enjoy these benefits.

Educating the Student Body

Educating the Student Body PDF Author: Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309283140
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 503

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Book Description
Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.