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      Walkability parameters, active transportation and objective physical activity: moderating and mediating effects of motor vehicle ownership in a cross-sectional study

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          Abstract

          Background

          Neighborhood walkability has been associated with physical activity in several studies. However, as environmental correlates of physical activity may be context specific, walkability parameters need to be investigated separately in various countries and contexts. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which walkability affects physical activity have been less investigated. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that vehicle ownership is a potential mediator. We investigated the associations between walkability parameters and physical activity, and the mediating and moderating effects of vehicle ownership on these associations in a large sample of Swedish adults.

          Methods

          Residential density, street connectivity and land use mix were assessed within polygon-based network buffers (using Geographic Information Systems) for 2,178 men and women. Time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity was assessed by accelerometers, and walking and cycling for transportation were assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Associations were examined by linear regression and adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. The product of coefficients approach was used to investigate the mediating effect of vehicle ownership.

          Results

          Residential density and land use mix, but not street connectivity, were significantly associated with time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity and walking for transportation. Cycling for transportation was not associated with any of the walkability parameters. Vehicle ownership mediated a significant proportion of the association between the walkability parameters and physical activity outcomes. For residential density, vehicle ownership mediated 25% of the association with moderate to vigorous physical activity and 20% of the association with the amount of walking for transportation. For land use mix, the corresponding proportions were 34% and 14%. Vehicle ownership did not moderate any of the associations between the walkability parameters and physical activity outcomes.

          Conclusions

          Residential density and land use mix were associated with time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity and walking for transportation. Vehicle ownership was a mediator but not a moderator of these associations. The present findings may be useful for policy makers and city planners when designing neighborhoods that promote physical activity.

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          Most cited references18

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          Calibration of the Computer Science and Applications, Inc. accelerometer.

          We established accelerometer count ranges for the Computer Science and Applications, Inc. (CSA) activity monitor corresponding to commonly employed MET categories. Data were obtained from 50 adults (25 males, 25 females) during treadmill exercise at three different speeds (4.8, 6.4, and 9.7 km x h(-1)). Activity counts and steady-state oxygen consumption were highly correlated (r = 0.88), and count ranges corresponding to light, moderate, hard, and very hard intensity levels were or = 9499 cnts x min(-1), respectively. A model to predict energy expenditure from activity counts and body mass was developed using data from a random sample of 35 subjects (r2 = 0.82, SEE = 1.40 kcal x min(-1)). Cross validation with data from the remaining 15 subjects revealed no significant differences between actual and predicted energy expenditure at any treadmill speed (SEE = 0.50-1.40 kcal x min(-1)). These data provide a template on which patterns of activity can be classified into intensity levels using the CSA accelerometer.
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            Many Pathways from Land Use to Health: Associations between Neighborhood Walkability and Active Transportation, Body Mass Index, and Air Quality

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              Built environment, physical activity, and obesity: what have we learned from reviewing the literature?

              To evaluate the growing literature on the built environment and physical activity/obesity, we conducted a review of review papers. Through a systematic search, we identified 36 reviews that met the inclusion criteria and evaluated these reviews based on key information provided, review methodology, and specificity regarding measurement. We also analyzed research gaps and areas of improvement identified by previous reviews and propose a research agenda. Future studies should develop complex conceptual and statistical models that include moderators and mediators, improve objective and perceived measures of the built environment, and strengthen evidence of causality through better research designs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
                Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act
                The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
                BioMed Central
                1479-5868
                2012
                5 October 2012
                : 9
                : 123
                Affiliations
                [1 ]Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
                [2 ]Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
                [3 ]City Futures Research Centre, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
                [4 ]School of Education, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
                [5 ]Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
                Article
                1479-5868-9-123
                10.1186/1479-5868-9-123
                3502165
                23035633
                de981281-6c14-42ba-963d-f2a69cc443bd
                Copyright ©2012 Eriksson et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

                This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 18 April 2012
                : 2 October 2012
                Categories
                Research

                Nutrition & Dietetics
                mediator,neighborhood walkability,geographic information system,moderator,accelerometer

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