Abstract
Parks can play an important role in youth activity. This study used observational data to evaluate the relationship of environmental and social determinants to youth physical activity intensity levels in Las Vegas neighborhood parks. System for observing play and leisure activity in youth was used to code activity levels as sedentary, walking, or vigorous in five low-income and five high-income parks. Environmental determinants included amenities, incivilities, size, high-speed streets, sidewalk condition, and temperature. Social determinants included percent minority and Hispanic, gender, and income. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed. We observed 1,421 youth, 59 % male, 41 % female; 21 % were sedentary, 38 % walking, and 41 % vigorous. Males were more likely to be observed walking (OR 1.42) and vigorous (OR 2.21) when compared to sedentary. High-speed streets (OR 0.76), sidewalks condition (OR 0.34), and low-income neighborhoods (OR 0.07) was associated with decreased odds of vigorous activity; incivilities (OR 1.34) and amenities (OR 1.27) were associated with greater odds of being vigorous. Environmental and social determinants are associated with physical activity intensity levels at parks. Stakeholders should ensure quality parks, as they relate to physical activity levels in youth. Understanding environmental and social determinants that influence physical activity at parks is critical to utilizing their full potential in an effort to combat childhood obesity.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ogden, C., Carroll, M., Kit, B., & Flegal, K. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among US children and adolescents, 1999–2010. Journal of the American Medical Association, 307(5), 483–490.
Haskell, W., Lee, I-Min, Pate, R., Powell, K., Blair, S., Franklin, B., et al. (2007). Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 39(8), 1423–1434.
Troiano, R., Berrigan, D., Dodd, K., Masse, L., Tilert, T., & McDowell, M. (2008). Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports Exercise, 40(1), 181–188.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey: Fact Sheets. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/factsheets/index.htm. Accessed 7 Oct 2013.
Sallis, J., & Glanz, K. (2009). Physical activity and food environments: solutions to the obesity epidemic. Milbank Quarterly, 87(1), 123–154.
Frank, L., Sallis, J., Conway, T., Chapman, J., Saelens, B., & Bachman, W. (2006). Many pathways from land use to health: Associations between neighborhood walk ability and active transportation, body mass index, and air quality. Journal of American Planning Association, 72(1), 75–87.
Estabrooks, P., Lee, R., & Gyurcsik, N. (2003). Resources for physical activity participation: Does availability and accessibility differ by neighborhood socioeconomic status? Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 25(2), 100–104.
Davison, K., & Lawson, C. (2006). Do attributes in the physical environment influence children’s physical activity? A review of the literature. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3, 19.
Cohen, D., McKenzie, T., Sehgal, A., Williamson, S., Golinelli, D., & Lurie, N. (2007). Contribution of public parks to physical activity. American Journal of Public Health, 97(3), 509–514.
Cohen, D., Ashwood, S., Scott, M., Overton, A., Evenson, K., Staten, L., et al. (2006). Public parks and physical activity among adolescent girls. Pediatrics, 118(5), e1381–e1389.
Roemmich, J., Epstein, L., Raja, S., Yin, L., Robinson, J., & Winiewicz, D. (2006). Association of access to parks and recreational facilities with the physical activity of young children. Preventive Medicine, 43(6), 437–441.
Southern Nevada Strong. (2013). 2012 Southern nevada existing conditions report. Prepared by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition, Lincy Institute, UNLV Urban Sustainability Initiative, UNLV School of Community Health Sciences.
Coughenour, C. & Pharr, J. (2012). Is there a disparity in park access in Clark County, NV? Presented at the Nevada Public Health Association Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Ekelund, U., Sardinha, L., Anderssen, S., Harro, M., Franks, P., Brage, S., et al. (2004). Associations between objectively assessed physical activity and indicators of body fatness in 9- to 10-year-old European children: a population-based study from 4 distinct regions in Europe (the European Youth Heart Study). American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(3), 584–590.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2012). 2013 Adjusted home income limits. Retrieved 25 July 2013 from http://nvhousing.state.nv.us/low_income/2013%20HOME%20Income%20Limits.pdf.
Lee, R. (2010). Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA); Protocol and definitions. Retrieved 1 May 2012 from http://grants.hhp.coe.uh.edu/undo/?page_id=21.
McKenzie, T. (2006). System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity (SOPLAY); Description and procedures manual. Retrieved 1 May 2012 from http://www.activelivingresearch.org/node/10642.
Kaczynski, A., Potwarka, L., & Saelens, B. (2008). Association of park size, distance, and features with physical activity in neighborhood parks. American Journal of Public Health, 98(8), 1451–1456.
Robinson, J., Lawton, B., Taylor, R., & Perkins, D. (2003). Multilevel longitudinal impacts of incivilities: Fear of crime, expectations, and block satisfaction. Journal of Qualitative Criminology, 19(3), 237–274.
Foster, S., & Giles-Corti, B. (2008). The built environment, neighborhood crime and constrained physical activity: An exploration of inconsistent findings. Preventive Medicine, 47, 241–251.
Sallis, J., Taylor, W., Dowda, M., Freeson, P., & Pate, R. (2002). Correlates of vigorous physical activity for children in grades 1 through 12: Comparing parent-reported and objectively measured physical activity. Pediatric Exercise Science, 14(1), 30–44.
Harris, K., Gordon-Larsen, P., Chantala, K., & Udry, R. (2006). Longitudinal trends in race/ethnic disparities in leading health indicators from adolescence to young adulthood. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 160(1), 74–81.
Ahmed, N., Smith, G., Flores, A., Pamies, R., Mason, H., Woods, K., et al. (2005). Racial/ethnic disparity and predictors of leisure-time physical activity among US men. Ethnicity and Disease, 15, 40–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coughenour, C., Coker, L. & Bungum, T.J. Environmental and Social Determinants of Youth Physical Activity Intensity Levels at Neighborhood Parks in Las Vegas, NV. J Community Health 39, 1092–1096 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9856-4
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9856-4