Neighbourhood environment facilitators and barriers to outdoor activity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a qualitative study

McCormack, Gavin R.; Petersen, Jennie; Naish, Calli; Ghoneim, Dalia; Doyle‐Baker, Patricia K.

doi:10.1080/23748834.2021.2016218

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Sometimes, a similar space (apartment/condominium) was described by different participants as a barrier or facilitator to physical activity, suggesting that the perception of the space was as important as the space itself. More universally, access to pleasant outdoor spaces in good weather was seen as a facilitator of physical activity, as noted in previous studies (71)(72)(73). Indeed, similar to our study, research prior to the pandemic noted outdoor walking as one of the preferred modes of physical activity (74)(75)(76)(77)(78) and that good weather motivates outdoor physical activity (79)(80)(81)(82).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active.” Supporting Remote Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults during COVID-19 and Beyond: a mixed-methods study

Mehrabi

Drisdelle

Dutt

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Pandemic-related public health restrictions limited older adults’ physical activity programs and opportunities. Supports for older adults' physical activity shifted to remote options, including virtual programming; however, information regarding the adoption and effectiveness of these supports is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate i) changes in physical activity of older adults during the pandemic, and ii) the uptake, perceived effectiveness, facilitators of and barriers to remote supports for physical activity among older adults during the pandemic. Methods: Community-dwelling older adults (60+) were recruited to a cross-sectional online survey and an optional semi-structured follow-up interview. Survey questions addressed demographics, physical activity behaviors, and perceived effectiveness of, and facilitators and barriers for remote supports for physical activity. Interview questions were guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel and data was analyzed via inductive and deductive thematic analysis. Results: 57 older adults (68.3±7.1 years, 43 Female) completed the survey and 15 of these (67.4±5.8 years, 12 Female) completed interviews. Most participants were Caucasian, highly educated, and lived in Canada. There was no change in older adults' total physical activity from before to during the pandemic (p=0.74); however, at-home exercise participation increased as did technology usage and adoption of new technology. Participants perceived real-time virtual exercise, recorded exercise videos, and phone/webchat check-ins to be the most effective remote supports. The greatest barriers to physical activity were lack of contact with exercise professionals, limited access to exercise equipment or space, and decreased mental wellness. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: i) Knowledge, access to equipment, and space enhance or constrain physical activity opportunities, ii) Individual and environmental factors motivate physical activity uptake, iii) Social connection and real-time support encourage physical activity engagement, and iv) Current and future considerations to support technology usage for exercise. Conclusion: Use of remote supports for physical activity increased during the pandemic, with video-based programming being most favored. Live virtual programming may be best suited to encouraging physical activity among older adults as it may provide greater motivation for exercise, increase social and mental wellness, and alleviate safety concerns.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active.” Supporting Remote Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults during COVID-19 and Beyond: a mixed-methods study

Mehrabi

Drisdelle

Dutt

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…On the other hand, an increase was reported when children were able to play outside at a nearby the house (such as yard, garage, or street), in the neighbourhood park or playground, and on sidewalks and roads [ 32 , 36 , 40 ]. One investigation found that providing safe recreation programs (e.g., masking, physical distance, and limited utilisation of shared physical facilities) in underused green spaces (such as sports fields, playgrounds, or parks) might encourage outdoor physical activity during COVID-19 outbreaks [ 43 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of COVID-19 Restrictions on Young Children’s Outdoor Activity: A Systematic Review

2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We sought to identify and synthesise available evidence to aid the understanding of the impact that COVID-19 restrictions had on the outdoor activity of children aged from birth to 12 years. Seven databases (Education Research Complete, ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, WHO COVID-19 Database) were searched for relevant journal articles in English published from 2020 on. Four qualitative and eleven quantitative studies were included after screening. JBI’s Critical Appraisal Tools were used for quality assessment. All qualitative studies showed an increase in outdoor activity. Less than half of the quantitative studies indicated an increase. Family demography, home characteristics, access to outdoor spaces, and parental support/encouragement/co-play were influential factors. The evidence also supports the recommendation for educators to increase children’s outdoor play time to adhere to the physical distancing guidance and sanitisation requirements. Limited evidence suggests that when COVID-19 restrictions led to decreased outdoor activity, it was associated with less peer socialisation. We identified significant gaps in understanding of the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on young children’s outdoor activity.

show abstract

“…parks) could serve as social gathering locations when indoor activities were prohibited or discouraged during the pandemic. 41 This was supported by evidence showing that people used greenspace as a way to maintain social interactions, 42,43 which have been proven to be beneficial for mental health. 44 In this regard, people living in an area with higher greenspace coverage are in an advantaged position.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…This was supported by evidence showing that people used greenspace as a way to maintain social interactions, 42,43 which have been proven to be beneficial for mental health.…”

mentioning

confidence: 90%

Urban greenspace and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 20-month follow up of 19,848 participants in England

Mak

Steptoe

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examined the association between greenspace and the growth trajectories of anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from 19,848 urban residents in England who were followed for 20 months between March 2020 and October 2021, we found that living in an area with higher greenspace coverage was associated with fewer anxiety symptoms over time independent of population density, area deprivation levels, socio-demographics, and health profiles. There was limited evidence that greenspace was related to the change of anxiety symptoms over time. No association with anxiety trajectories was found when using greenspace proximity.

show abstract

Neighbourhood environment facilitators and barriers to outdoor activity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a qualitative study

Cited by 17 publications

References 45 publications

“If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active.” Supporting Remote Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults during COVID-19 and Beyond: a mixed-methods study

“If I want to be able to keep going, I must be active.” Supporting Remote Physical Activity Programming for Older Adults during COVID-19 and Beyond: a mixed-methods study

Impacts of COVID-19 Restrictions on Young Children’s Outdoor Activity: A Systematic Review

Urban greenspace and anxiety symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 20-month follow up of 19,848 participants in England

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About