The moderating effect of psychosocial factors in the relation between neighborhood walkability and children’s physical activity

Abstract

BackgroundThe study aimed to investigate if psychosocial factors moderate the association between objective walkability and different domains of children’s physical activity (PA). A second aim of the study was to investigate the direct associations between psychosocial factors and children’s PA. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that walkability would be more strongly related to PA among children with negative psychosocial profiles.MethodsData were collected between December 2011 and May 2013 as part of the Belgian Environmental Physical Activity Study in children (BEPAS-child). In total, data from 494 children and one of their parents were included in the study. Children wore an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days and together with one of their parents, they completed the Flemish Physical Activity Questionnaire. Parents filled out a questionnaire concerning their child’s psychosocial factors toward PA (i.e. parental attitude toward their child’s PA, parental social norm toward their child’s PA, parental support, friend support, children’s self-efficacy, and perceived benefits and barriers toward sports and PA). Neighborhood walkability was calculated using geographical information systems (GIS). Multilevel cross-classified analyses were conducted.ResultsOf the 42 investigated interactions between neighborhood walkability and psychosocial factors in relation to PA among children, only 7 significant interactions were found of which 3 were only significant among children from low-income neighborhoods.Parental support and self-efficacy were positive correlates of children’s PA in high- and low-income neighborhoods independent of the level of walkability, but effect sizes were small.ConclusionsThe hypothesis that walkability would be more strongly related to PA among children with negative psychosocial profiles could not be confirmed and in general, psychosocial factors and objective walkability did not interact in relation to children’s PA. Focusing on parental support and self-efficacy towards PA can possibly cause small effects on children’s PA in both high- and low-walkable neighborhoods, as well as in high- and low-income neighborhoods.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12966-016-0452-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Interactions of psychosocial factors with built environments in explaining adolescents' active transportation

“…The study of younger adults by Ding and colleagues (2012) found no significant interactions for transport walking, though there were interactions between built environment and psychosocial attributes in explaining leisure walking. The study of children’s total physical activity by D’Haese et al (2016) did not find a consistent pattern of interactions. The different patterns of findings across studies could possibly be explained by the different age groups, outcomes, and psychosocial factors explored.…”

“…For physical activity, few published studies with adults (Carlson et al, 2012; Ding et al, 2012; Rhodes et al, 2006; Kaczynski et al, 2012; Van Dyck et al, 2009), one study with adolecents (De Meester et al, 2013) and one study with children; (D’Haese et al, 2016)) have reported on interactions between psychosocial variables and built environments, but the patterns of interactions varied across studies. Literature on correlates of physical activity indicated built environment variables were less consistently related to youth PA than adult PA (Bauman et al, 2012), so perhaps examining multi-level interactions is more important for youth because different subgroups may respond differently to the same built environments.…”

Whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health pilot randomised controlled trial protocol

“…The questionnaires can be viewed in online supplementary file. These will include: adult and child screen-time use42–45; quality of life46–49; family co-participation in PA45; PA awareness50 51; family social norms for PA52 53; family support52; children’s and adult’s motivation for PA54 55; and children’s perceived autonomy, competence and relatedness 55…”

Travel mode attitudes, urban context, and demographics: do they interact differently for bicycle commuting and cycling for other purposes?

“…Besides, regarding competitive mechanism, attitudes toward different modes also have an effect on cycling behavior, although most studies have neglected interactions between cycling attitudes and attitudes toward other travel modes. To our knowledge, only a few studies investigated the interaction effect between the built and social environment on cycling without considering cycling attitudes (Bourke et al 2018;Wang et al 2017;D'Haese et al 2016). A Belgian study on children found an interaction effect between support from friends and neighborhood walkability on cycling in leisure time (D'Haese et al 2016).…”

“…To our knowledge, only a few studies investigated the interaction effect between the built and social environment on cycling without considering cycling attitudes (Bourke et al 2018;Wang et al 2017;D'Haese et al 2016). A Belgian study on children found an interaction effect between support from friends and neighborhood walkability on cycling in leisure time (D'Haese et al 2016). This study also showed that friend support moderated the relationship between walkability and cycling in leisure time; however the effect size of this interaction was minor.…”