College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Yunnan University, Yunnan, China.
Institute for Smart City of Chongqing University in Liyang, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Front Public Health. 2022 Mar 16;9:813976. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.813976. eCollection 2021.
Green open space (GOS) is an important outdoor resource for the well-being of children by providing places for physical activity (PA), especially in the highly urbanized environment. The COVID-19 lockdowns have made children have more sedentary time than before due to less access to public places. This article aims to examine the associations of GOS characteristics (environmental and surrounding) and children's use (visitation and PA pattern) to provide evidence for promoting their PA during the pandemic. This study employed the method of GPS positioner, accelerometer, and survey to measure the children's actual use in GOS. A total of 179 children participated in the study and 10 GOSs were selected. The children were provided with the accelerometers and GPS positioners to track their walking steps, duration, and locations. The environmental characteristics and 1 km buffer of the selected GOSs were explored as extended study area. Results showed that 49.16% of children reported more visitations than before the pandemic, and 48.60% of them preferred to go on weekdays during the pandemic. Both environmental and surrounding characteristics could affect the visitation pattern. The size ( < 0.000), residential ratio ( < 0.000), and intersection density ( < 0.000) were found as the factors significantly associated with visitation pattern. The children's PA pattern was mainly associated with the environmental characteristics of size ( < 0.000), sports, and playground proportion ( < 0.000). The locations of children's PA were mainly around square, playground, sheltered place, and waterside areas. COVID-19 has transformed the children's use of GOS, as well as their relationship with GOS. The large GOS was more likely to promote PA and its use by the children. The environmental and surrounding characteristics of GOS could affect their use pattern, whereas their PA pattern was mainly associated with the environmental characteristics. The findings suggest that GOS characteristics could be an effective solution to respond the challenge from the pandemic, and promote their visitation and PA.
绿色开放空间（GOS）是儿童福祉的重要户外资源，为他们提供了进行体育活动（PA）的场所，尤其是在高度城市化的环境中。由于儿童较少进入公共场所，新冠疫情封锁措施使得他们的久坐时间比以往任何时候都多。本文旨在研究 GOS 特征（环境和周边）与儿童使用（访问和 PA 模式）之间的关联，为大流行期间促进他们的 PA 提供证据。本研究采用 GPS 定位器、加速度计和调查相结合的方法来测量儿童在 GOS 中的实际使用情况。共有 179 名儿童参与了研究，选择了 10 个 GOS。为孩子们提供了加速度计和 GPS 定位器，以跟踪他们的步行步数、持续时间和位置。还探索了选定 GOS 的环境特征和 1 公里缓冲区作为扩展研究区域。结果显示，49.16%的儿童表示比疫情前的访问次数更多，48.60%的儿童更喜欢在疫情期间的工作日去 GOS。环境和周边特征都可能影响访问模式。研究发现，大小（<0.000）、居住比例（<0.000）和交叉口密度（<0.000）是与访问模式显著相关的因素。儿童的 PA 模式主要与环境特征中的大小（<0.000）、运动和游乐场比例（<0.000）有关。儿童 PA 的地点主要在广场、游乐场、遮蔽处和水边。新冠疫情改变了儿童对 GOS 的使用方式，以及他们与 GOS 的关系。大型 GOS 更有可能促进儿童的 PA 及其使用。GOS 的环境和周边特征可能会影响他们的使用模式，而他们的 PA 模式主要与环境特征有关。研究结果表明，GOS 特征可以成为应对大流行挑战的有效解决方案，并促进他们的访问和 PA。
