Determinants of activity-friendly neighborhoods for children: results from the SPACE study.

PURPOSE

To examine the association between children's physical activity and factors of the built environment.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study. Setting. Ten neighborhoods in six cities in the Netherlands.

SUBJECTS

Four hundred twenty-two children (age range, 6-11 years; 49% male).

MEASURES

Physical activity diary, neighborhood observations, and anthropometric measures.

ANALYSIS

Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

According to univariate analyses adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and highest level of maternal education, physical activity (> or = 3 metabolic equivalents) was significantly (p < .05) associated with the proportion of green space, with the residential density, with the general impression of activity-friendliness of the neighborhood, and with the frequency of certain types of residences (e.g., terraced houses), sports fields, water, dog waste, heavy traffic, and safe walking and cycling conditions (e.g., cycle tracks and 30-km speed zones) in the neighborhood. According to adjusted multivariate analyses, physical activity was best predicted by the frequency of parallel parking spaces in the neighborhood and by the general impression of activity-friendliness of the neighborhood (I2 = 0. 193).

CONCLUSIONS

Children's physical activity is associated with certain modifiable factors of the built environment. Longitudinal studies should examine whether there is a causal relationship.