Neighborhood green spaces, facilities and population density as predictors of activity participation among 8-year-olds: a cross-sectional GIS study based on the Norwegian mother and child cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundA rapidly growing body of research suggests that qualities of the built environment can promote active living among children and youth. Nevertheless, shortcomings in the current evidence for understanding which built environment characteristics provide opportunities for taking part in activities in childhood remain. This study aimed to examine whether population density, green spaces, and facilities/amenities are associated with participation in leisure-time physical activity (PA), organized activities, and social activities with friends and peers in Norwegian 8-year-olds.MethodsData from a sample of 23,043 children from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) were linked with geospatial data about the built environment. The questionnaire data reported by mothers provided information on the children’s leisure activities. We computed exposure to neighborhood population density and access to green spaces and facilities/amenities within 800- and 5000-m radii of the participants’ home addresses using geographic information systems. Associations were estimated using logistic regression models.ResultsWe found beneficial associations between having a park within 800-m and more leisure-time PA during the summer. Furthermore, children living in neighborhoods with higher proportions of green space participated in more PA during the winter. More densely populated areas and access to facilities were associated with participation in organized and social activities. Specifically, we observed that more playgrounds/sport fields in the neighborhood were the strongest and most consistent correlate of activity participation in Norwegian 8-year-olds by being related to more socialization with friends and peers.ConclusionThis population-based study underscores the importance of access to a variety of venues and opportunities for different activities in the immediate neighborhood surroundings and in the greater community to support participation in physical activity and organized and social activities in childhood.

When physical activity meets the physical environment: precision health insights from the intersection

“…Regardless of urban or rural living settings, esthetically pleasing green spaces and physical activity have synergistic effects [ 31 – 33 ]. When investigating the interplay between physical activity and green spaces, aspects such as the restoration pathway, which incorporates stress recovery and increased social contact, should be considered as this pathway may be bolstered by green spaces, in particular for older and younger segments of the population [ 34 – 37 ].…”

Safe environments—Through the eyes of 9‐year‐old schoolchildren from a socially vulnerable area in Sweden

“…School‐aged children have, in another study, described leisure activities as joint and meaningful activities (Ahlberg, 2011). Participating in activities has often been related to health, well‐being and safety for children (Nordbø, Raanaas, Nordh, & Aamodt, 2019). Also, preschool‐aged children have described safety as good peer relations and meaningful activities (Basa & Kerstof, 2019).…”

“…Involvement in different organized activities has been associated with increased academic achievements, social relationships, life satisfaction and better mental health (Badura, Madarasova Geckova, Sigmundova, van Dijk, & Reijneveld, 2015; Breistøl, Clench‐Aas, Van Roy, & Kjærsti Raanaas, 2017; Eime, Young, Harvey, Charity, & Payne, 2013). Playgrounds and sports fields in the neighbourhood have been pointed out as the strongest predictor for active participation with friends and peers (Nordbø, Raanaas, et al, 2019). However, children living in vulnerable areas have been shown to be less engaged in organized activities (Simpkins, Delgado, Price, Quach, & Starbuck, 2013), which makes those children doubly victimized in their striving for equal health and well‐being.…”

The association between spatial access to physical activity facilities within home and workplace neighborhoods and time spent on physical activities: evidence from Guangzhou, China

“…All covariates in Table 2 In the current study, we found that using different measures of accessibility to PA facilities (i.e., counts and proximity) would generate different results. A significant association between the counts of PA facilities around the home and the amount of time spent on PA/MVPA can be found in the cities of some developed countries [51][52][53]. For example, a Norwegian study found that having more sports fields in the home neighborhood was related to children's PA levels [52], while a New York study found that the counts of PA facilities around the home was associated with PA levels, especially for people who had gym membership [51].…”

“…A significant association between the counts of PA facilities around the home and the amount of time spent on PA/MVPA can be found in the cities of some developed countries [51][52][53]. For example, a Norwegian study found that having more sports fields in the home neighborhood was related to children's PA levels [52], while a New York study found that the counts of PA facilities around the home was associated with PA levels, especially for people who had gym membership [51]. In addition, a US study found that the density of commercial PA facilities was related to PA behaviors among U.S. teenagers [53].…”