Variations in Observed Park Physical Activity Intensity Level by Gender, Race, and Age: Individual and Joint Effects

Kaczynski, Andrew T.; Stanis, Sonja A. Wilhelm; Hastmann, Tanis J.; Besenyi, Gina M.

doi:10.1123/jpah.8.s2.s151

Cited by 69 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Although parks have been shown to be important environments for physical activity [7,8,71,72], opportunities to improve physical activity in park settings exist [73,74]. As more than 20 % of the respondents in this study engage in no physical activity and more than 60 % were either overweight or obese, there is a need to increase physical activity participation among residents which can subsequently improve health.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

et al. 2013

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Background Parks are important resources for physical activity (PA), yet few studies have examined how perceptions of park characteristics relate to PA and health. Purpose This study investigated associations between perceptions of neighborhood park quality and overall moderateto-vigorous PA (MVPA), park-based PA, and body mass index (BMI). Methods Data were collected via questionnaire from 893 households in Kansas City, Missouri. Results The newly developed neighborhood park quality scale demonstrated good test-retest and internal reliability. Residents' perceptions of neighborhood park quality were related to PA and health outcomes. Perceiving parks as a benefit was positively related to overall MVPA and park-based PA and negatively related to BMI. Perceptions of well-used parks were positively related to BMI, while perceived cleanliness was negatively related to parkbased PA. Conclusions Better measuring and understanding how perceptions of local parks are associated with PA and health can improve appreciation of how parks facilitate active living.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

et al. 2013

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“…27,29 There also appears to be age, sex and racial differences regarding PA patterns in public parks. 29,30 Perceived neighborhood quality and safety are also important factors for using public parks to engage in PA, although more work is needed in this area to understand these complex social interactions. 24 Recently, outdoor fitness equipment spaces have emerged in public parks to promote active options, although there currently is mixed evidence with respect to the impact of the recreational environment model on increasing PA patterns.…”

Section: Public Parks and Healthy Living -State Of Current Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Public Park Spaces as a Platform to Promote Healthy Living: Introducing a HealthPark Concept

Arena

Bond

O’Neill³

et al. 2017

Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases

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The concept of Healthy Living (HL) as a primary medical intervention continues to gain traction, and rightfully so. Being physically active, consuming a nutritious diet, not smoking and maintaining an appropriate body weight constitute the HL polypill, the foundation of HL medicine (HLM). Daily use of the HL polypill, working toward optimal dosages, portends profound health benefits, substantially reducing the risk of chronic disease [i.e., cardiovascular disease (CVD), pulmonary disease, metabolic syndromes, certain cancers, etc.] and associated adverse health consequences. To be effective and proactive, our healthcare system must rethink where its primary intervention, HLM, is delivered. Waiting for individuals to come to the traditional outpatient setting is an ineffective approach as poor lifestyle habits are typically well established by the time care is initiated. Ideally, HLM should be delivered where individuals live, work and go to school, promoting immersion in a culture of health and wellness. To this end, there is a growing interest in the use of public parks as a platform to promote the adoption of HL behaviors. The current perspectives paper provides a brief literature review on the use of public parks for HL interventions and introduces a new HealthPark model being developed in Chicago.

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“…The built features of parks such as playgrounds, sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, and, in particular, walking trails have been shown to affect physical activity across the life span (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Parks in lower-income areas have been shown to have fewer built features (12)(13)(14)23,24) and fewer users (23,24) than those in higher-income areas. Most park studies have focused on a specific population within a small geographic area and have been of short duration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies using SOPARC have documented the characteristics of parks (accessibility, usability, and whether or not they provide supervision, equipment, and organized activities) and park users (levels and types of physical activity, sex, race/ethnicity, and age group) (12,13,15,18,20). These studies consistently report that most park users (>60%) are male and sedentary when observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physical Activity Surveillance in Parks Using Direct Observation

Ward¹,

McKenzie²,

Cohen³

et al. 2014

Prev. Chronic Dis.

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Introduction Primary features of observational public health surveillance instruments are that they are valid, can reliably estimate physical activity behaviors, and are useful across diverse geographic settings and seasons by different users. Previous studies have reported the validity and reliability of Systematic Observation of Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to estimate park and user characteristics. The purpose of this investigation was to establish the use of SOPARC as a surveillance instrument and to situate the findings from the study in the context of the previous literature.

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Variations in Observed Park Physical Activity Intensity Level by Gender, Race, and Age: Individual and Joint Effects

Abstract: Observations revealed significant differences in intensity levels across gender, age, and race groups. Future interventions should emphasize park design that promotes increased MVPA among diverse groups.

Cited by 69 publications

References 57 publications

Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

Public Park Spaces as a Platform to Promote Healthy Living: Introducing a HealthPark Concept

Physical Activity Surveillance in Parks Using Direct Observation

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