Investigation of Perceived Walkability of Neighborhood Environment According to Physical Activity Level and Body Composition of Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This research examined the relationship between physical activity status and perceived walkability in the neighborhood environment during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of 88 volunteer adults, 45 females and 43 males, aged 18-65 participated in the study. An online IPAQ-Short Form and Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale were administered to the participants. In addition, daily step counts were determined to determine objective physical activity levels. The collected data were analyzed by correlation and t test in SPSS program. According to analysis of step counts, there was a significant difference between the physical activity groups (p<0.05). Only the aesthetics of neighborhood environment subscale scores were significantly different between those with high intensity physical activity compared to those with low and moderate intensity physical activity (p<0.05). According to the analysis results, mean step count and mean IPAQ scores were identified to have positive moderate level of correlation (r = 0.27, p = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the mean walkability perception of the neighborhood environment subscale scores according to body composition (p>0.05). As a result, in this process, the status of adults' perceptions of the neighborhood environment regarding physical activity was examined; During the Covid-19 pandemic, features of the built environment did not increase physical activity and walking, and their effects were not as expected. In conclusion; the most important reasons for this are the measures taken by the administrators to protect people, the conditions affecting the pandemic such as the threat and uncertainty that the pandemic