Evaluating the Quality and Accessibility of Physical Activity Resources in Two Southern Cities

Author:

Adamus Heather J.,Mama Scherezade K.,Sahnoune Iman,Lee Rebecca E.

Abstract

Purpose. Access and quality of physical activity resources (PARs) influence physical activity (PA) participation. This study examined the type, size, accessibility, features, amenities, and incivilities of PARs in two cities. Design. Researchers identified all PARs within an 800-meter radius of the homes of participants from a larger study. Each PAR was evaluated by a trained assessor. Setting. PARs were evaluated in Houston and Austin, Texas. Patients. The final sample included 1326 PARs in Houston and 297 in Austin, Texas. Measures. The 2010 Physical Activity Resource Assessment (PARA), a direct-observation audit tool, was used to assess the type, size, accessibility, features, amenities, and incivilities of a PAR. Analysis. Both t-tests and analyses of variance were used to determine differences in features, amenities, and incivilities by city, type, and accessibility. Results. Houston PARs had greater amenities (t[421] = 4.445; p < .001) and fewer incivilities (t[371] = −6.89; p < .001) than Austin PARs. Combination resources had the highest score for features (M = 9.94; standard deviation [SD] = 5.62); fitness clubs had the highest score for amenities (M = 17.06; SD = 5.27); and trails had the most incivilities (M = 4.23; SD = 4.88). Free PARs had greater features (F[3, 1509] = 16.87; p < .001), amenities (F[3, 1500] = 3.13; p = .025), and incivilities (F[3, 1540] = 21.97; p < .001) than pay for use PARs. Conclusion. Improvements to quality and maintenance of existing free PARs may be an economical strategy to increase PA.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health (social science)

Cited by 8 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3