Veitch Jenny, Carver Alison, Hume Clare, Crawford David, Timperio Anna, Ball Kylie, Salmon Jo
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014 Jun 9;11:73. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-73.
Parks are important for providing opportunities for physical activity among youth. Apart from engaging in physical activity whilst visiting a park, active transportation (e.g. walking or cycling) to parks is potentially an additional source of physical activity. Previous research has shown that a major barrier to young people visiting parks is their inability to visit parks unaccompanied by an adult. It is not known; however, whether young people who have greater independent mobility and territorial range (ability to move around their neighbourhood alone or with friends, unaccompanied by an adult) are more likely to visit parks. This study examined park visitation and travel mode to parks and whether independent mobility and territorial range were associated with park visitation among youth living in disadvantaged areas of Victoria, Australia.
In 2010-11, 311 youth aged 8-16 years self-reported their park use, active transport, independent mobility to parks, and territorial range. Logistic regression models determined the odds of park visitation (once per week or more) according to independent mobility and territorial range, adjusting for key covariates.
Overall, 75% of participants reported visiting parks, and 37% visited their 'usual' park at least once per week. Of those who reported visiting parks, 87% travelled to the park they usually visited using active transport: 57% walked, 22% cycled, and 8% used a scooter/skateboard. Just 15% and 13% of youth regularly walked or cycled alone to parks/playgrounds respectively, and 25% and 19% regularly walked or cycled with friends or siblings (no adults) respectively. For the 84% who reported having parks/playgrounds within walking distance from home, those who regularly walked alone to parks (OR 3.61; CI=1.67, 7.80), and regularly walked (OR 2.27; CI=1.14, 4.55) or cycled (OR 3.38; CI=1.73, 6.62) with friends to parks, were significantly more likely to visit a park at least once per week, compared to others.
This study showed that active transport is frequently used by this sample of young people to travel to parks. Findings also highlight the potential importance of providing opportunities for youth aged 8-16 years to visit local parks independent of an adult.
公园对于为青少年提供体育活动机会至关重要。除了在游览公园时进行体育活动外，前往公园的主动出行方式（如步行或骑自行车）可能是体育活动的额外来源。先前的研究表明，青少年前往公园的一个主要障碍是他们无法在没有成年人陪同的情况下前往公园。然而，尚不清楚具有更强独立出行能力和活动范围（能够在没有成年人陪同的情况下独自或与朋友在邻里间走动）的青少年是否更有可能前往公园。本研究调查了澳大利亚维多利亚州贫困地区青少年前往公园的情况、前往公园的出行方式，以及独立出行能力和活动范围是否与前往公园有关。
在2010 - 2011年，311名8 - 16岁的青少年自行报告了他们使用公园的情况、主动出行情况、前往公园的独立出行能力以及活动范围。逻辑回归模型根据独立出行能力和活动范围确定每周至少前往公园一次的几率，并对关键协变量进行调整。
总体而言，75%的参与者报告去过公园，37%的人每周至少去一次他们“常去”的公园。在那些报告去过公园的人中，87%使用主动出行方式前往他们常去的公园：57%步行，22%骑自行车，8%使用滑板车/滑板。分别只有15%和13%的青少年经常独自步行或骑自行车去公园/游乐场，25%和19%的青少年经常与朋友或兄弟姐妹（无成年人陪同）步行或骑自行车去。对于报告家附近有公园/游乐场的84%的人来说，那些经常独自步行去公园的人（比值比3.61；置信区间=1.67, 7.80），以及经常与朋友步行（比值比2.27；置信区间=1.14, 4.55）或骑自行车（比值比3.38；置信区间=1.73, 6.62）去公园的人，与其他人相比，每周至少去一次公园的可能性显著更高。
本研究表明，该样本中的青少年经常使用主动出行方式前往公园。研究结果还凸显了为8 - 16岁青少年提供独立前往当地公园机会的潜在重要性。
