Paula Hooper

Associations between park features and adolescent park use for physical activity

BackgroundEighty per cent of adolescents globally do insufficient physical activity. Parks are a popular place for adolescents to be active. However, little is known about which park features are associated with higher levels of park use by adolescents.ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine which environmental park features, and combination of features, were correlated with higher levels of park use for physical activity among adolescents. By examining park features in parks used by adolescents for physical activity, this study also aimed to create a park ‘attractiveness’ score predictive of adolescent park use, and to identify factors that might predict use of their closest park.MethodsAdolescents (n = 1304) living in Geraldton, a large rural centre of Western Australia, completed a survey that measured physical activity behaviour, perceptions of park availability and the main park used for physical activity. All parks in the study area (n = 58) were digitized using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and features audited using the Public Open Space Desktop Auditing Tool (POSDAT).ResultsOnly 27% of participants reported using their closest park for physical activity. Park use was associated with seven features: presence of a skate park, walking paths, barbeques, picnic table, public access toilets, lighting around courts and equipment and number of trees >25. When combined to create an overall attractiveness score, every additional ‘attractive’ feature present, resulted in a park being nearly three times more likely to be in the high use category.ConclusionsTo increase park use for physical activity, urban planners and designers should incorporate park features attractive to adolescents.

Reconnecting urban planning with health: a protocol for the development and validation of national liveability indicators associated with noncommunicable disease risk behaviours and health outcomes

AIM Liveable communities create the conditions to optimise health and wellbeing outcomes in residents by influencing various social determinants of health - for example, neighbourhood walkability and access to public transport, public open space, local amenities, and social and community facilities. This study will develop national liveability indicators that are (a) aligned with state and federal urban policy, (b) developed using national data (where available), (c) standard and consistent over time, (d) suitable for monitoring progress towards creating more liveable, equitable and sustainable communities, (e) validated against selected noncommunicable disease risk behaviours and/or health outcomes, and (f) practical for measuring local, national and federal built environment interventions. STUDY TYPE Protocol. METHOD Over two years, the National Liveability Study, funded through The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (TAPPC), will develop and validate a national set of spatially derived built environment liveability indicators related to noncommunicable disease risk behaviours and/or health outcomes, informed by a review of relevant policies in selected Australian state and territory governments. To create national indicators, we will compare measures developed using national data with finer-grained state-level data, which have been validated against a range of outcomes. Finally, we will explore the creation of a national database of built environment spatial indicators. RESULTS A national advisory group comprising stakeholders in state and federal government, federal nongovernment organisations and state-based technical working groups located in the ACT, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and WA has been established; a policy analysis is under way and work programs are being prepared. CONCLUSION This project seeks to build the capacity for built environment and health systems research by developing national indicators to monitor progress towards creating healthy and liveable communities. This ambition requires multisector engagement and an interdisciplinary research team.

Socio-ecological predictors of the uptake of cycling for recreation and transport in adults: Results from the RESIDE study

OBJECTIVE To examine the uptake of cycling for recreation and transport, and relate these behaviors to individual, social, and environmental exposures over time. METHOD Data were drawn from 909 adults in Time 2 (T2) (2005-2006) and Time 3 (T3) (2007-2008) of the RESIDE study (Australia). Demographics, perceptions of self-efficacy and social support related to cycling, neighborhood environment perceptions, and objective measures of the neighborhood were measured at T2. These were compared with uptake of cycling for recreation and transport at T3. RESULTS At T3, 54 (5.9%) had taken up cycling for recreation and 44 (4.8%) for transport. Positive perceptions of self-efficacy at T2 were consistently positively associated with the uptake of cycling for either purpose at T3. Respondents living in higher walkable neighborhoods (OR=1.63; 95% CI=1.02-2.62) or with higher objectively measured street connectivity (OR=1.80; 95% CI=1.05-3.07) were more likely to start cycling for recreation when compared with their reference groups. No significant relationships existed between objective measures of the neighborhood and uptake of cycling for transport. CONCLUSION Interventions focusing on enhancing self-efficacy and generating social support will likely positively influence both cycling for recreation and transport; and providing infrastructure that creates physically supportive neighborhoods may increase cycling levels.

Quality of Public Open Spaces and Recreational Walking.

OBJECTIVES We examined associations between specific public open space (POS) attributes and recreational walking to local POS. METHODS Between October 2004 and December 2006, 1465 adults of the RESIDential Environments Project, conducted in Perth, Australia, reported whether they walk to a POS for recreation. For each participant, we identified all open spaces larger than 0.8 hectares within 1.6 kilometers from home. On the basis of field audit data, we created 3 scores (presence, count, size-weighted presence) for 19 specific open space attributes. RESULTS With logistic regression analyses, we found that walking to a POS was associated with the presence of gardens, grassed areas, walking paths, water features, wildlife, amenities, dog-related facilities, and off-leash areas for dogs. It was also associated with the highest number of these attributes in a single open space, but not with the total number of attributes in all POSs within 1.6 kilometers of home. CONCLUSIONS Building 1 high-quality local park may be more effective in promoting recreational walking than is providing many average-quality parks.

Public green spaces and positive mental health – investigating the relationship between access, quantity and types of parks and mental wellbeing

Abstract Associations between parks and mental health have typically been investigated in relation to the presence or absence of mental illness. This study uses a validated measure of positive mental health and data from RESIDential Environments (RESIDE) Project to investigate the association between the presence, amount and attributes of public green space in new greenfield neighbourhood developments and the mental health of local residents (n = 492). Both the overall number and total area of public green spaces were significantly associated with greater mental wellbeing, and findings support a dose‐response relationship. Positive mental health was not only associated with parks with a nature focus, but also with green spaces characterised by recreational and sporting activity. The study demonstrates that adequate provision of public green space in local neighbourhoods and within walking distance is important for positive mental health. HighlightsConsidered benefits of parks for positive mental health, instead of mental illness.Positive mental health increased with more parks in walking distance to home.Range of park sizes related to positive mental health, including small pocket parks.Parks with varying foci (recreation, nature, sport) all associated with mental health.

Liquor landscapes: Does access to alcohol outlets influence alcohol consumption in young adults?

Abstract Few longitudinal studies have examined the impact of liquor licences on alcohol consumption, and none in young adults, the life stage when alcohol intake is at its highest. We examined associations between liquor licences (i.e., general licences, on‐premise licences, liquor stores, and club licences) and alcohol consumption at 20‐years (n=988) and 22‐years (n=893), and whether changes in the licences between time‐points influenced alcohol consumption (n=665). Only general licences were associated with alcohol consumption at 20‐years (p=0.037), but by 22‐years, all licences types were positively associated with alcohol consumption (p<0.05). Longitudinal analyses showed that for each increase in liquor stores over time, alcohol consumption increased by 1.22 g/day or 8% (p=0.030), and for each additional club licence, consumption increased by 0.90 g/day or 6% (p=0.007). Limiting liquor licences could contribute to a reduction in young adults’ alcohol intake. HighlightsWe tested the associations between liquor licences and alcohol intake in young adults.Changes in liquor licences between 20 and 22‐years impacted on alcohol intake.For each increase in liquor stores, consumption increased by 1.22 g/day (p=0.030).For each additional club licence, consumption increased by 0.91 g/day (p=0.007).Results suggest a potentially causal association between licences and alcohol intake.

A longitudinal analysis of the influence of the neighborhood environment on recreational walking within the neighborhood: Results from RESIDE

Background: There is limited longitudinal evidence confirming the role of neighborhood environment attributes in encouraging people to walk more or if active people simply choose to live in activity-friendly neighborhoods. Natural experiments of policy changes to create more walkable communities provide stronger evidence for a causal effect of neighborhood environments on residents’ walking. Objectives: We aimed to investigate longitudinal associations between objective and perceived neighborhood environment measures and neighborhood recreational walking. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data collected over 8 yr (four surveys) from the RESIDential Environments (RESIDE) Study (Perth, Australia, 2003–2012). At each time point, participants reported the frequency and total minutes of recreational walking/week within their neighborhood and neighborhood environment perceptions. Objective measures of the neighborhood environment were generated using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results: Local recreational walking was influenced by objectively measured access to a medium-/large-size park, beach access, and higher street connectivity, which was reduced when adjusted for neighborhood perceptions. In adjusted models, positive perceptions of access to a park and beach, higher street connectivity, neighborhood esthetics, and safety from crime were independent determinants of increased neighborhood recreational walking. Local recreational walking increased by 9 min/wk (12% increase in frequency) for each additional perceived neighborhood attribute present. Conclusions: Our findings provide urban planners and policy makers with stronger causal evidence of the positive impact of well-connected neighborhoods and access to local parks of varying sizes on local residents’ recreational walking and health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP823

Designing healthy communities: Creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres

BackgroundEvidence-based metrics are needed to inform urban policy to create healthy walkable communities. Most active living research has developed metrics of the environment around residential addresses, ignoring other important walking locations. Therefore, this study examined: metrics for built environment features surrounding local shopping centres, (known in Melbourne, Australia as neighbourhood activity centres (NACs) which are typically anchored by a supermarket); the association between NACs and transport walking; and, policy compliance for supermarket provision.MethodsIn this observational study, cluster analysis was used to categorize 534 NACs in Melbourne, Australia by their built environment features. The NACS were linked to eligible Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel Activity 2009-2010 (VISTA) survey participants (n=19,984). Adjusted multilevel logistic regressions estimated associations between each cluster typology and two outcomes of daily walking: any transport walking; and, any ‘neighbourhood’ transport walking. Distance between residential dwellings and closest NAC was assessed to evaluate compliance with local planning policy on supermarket locations.ResultsMetrics for 19 built environment features were estimated and three NAC clusters associated with walkability were identified. NACs with significantly higher street connectivity (mean:161, SD:20), destination diversity (mean:16, SD:0.4); and net residential density (mean:77, SD:65) were interpreted as being ‘highly walkable’ when compared with ‘low walkable’ NACs, which had lower street connectivity (mean:57, SD:15); destination diversity (mean:11, SD:3); and net residential density (mean:10, SD:3). The odds of any daily transport walking was 5.85 times higher (95% CI: 4.22, 8.11), and for any ‘neighborhood’ transport walking 8.66 (95% CI: 5.89, 12.72) times higher, for residents whose closest NAC was highly walkable compared with those living near low walkable NACs. Only highly walkable NACs met the policy requirement that residents live within 1km of a local supermarket.ConclusionsBuilt environment features surrounding NACs must reach certain levels to encourage walking and deliver walkable communities. Research and metrics about the type and quantity of built environment features around both walking trip origins and destinations is needed to inform urban planning policies and urban design guidelines.

Does alcohol outlet density differ by area-level disadvantage in metropolitan Perth?

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Research suggests that there are area-level disparities in alcohol outlets, with greater density in disadvantaged areas. In part, this might be explained by the inequitable distribution of retail, attracted by lower rents to disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This ecological study examines the distribution of liquor licences in Perth, Australia, and whether discrepancies in the distribution of retail land-uses could account for a socio-economic gradient. DESIGN AND METHODS Area disadvantage was determined for each Statistical Area 1 (SA1) using the Australian Bureau of Statistics Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, and licence locations were mapped in GIS. Negative binomial loglinear models examined whether licence densities within SA1s differed by area disadvantage, controlling for demographics and spatial correlation. Models included an offset term, so the estimated effects of area-level disadvantage were on licences per km2 , or licences per retail destination. RESULTS In the area-based analyses, for every unit increase in disadvantage decile (i.e. a reduction in relative disadvantage), general licences reduced by 15% (P = 0.000) and liquor stores reduced by 7% (P = 0.004). These gradients were not apparent when licences were examined as a function of retail; however, for every unit increase in disadvantage decile, the density of on-premise licences per retail destination increased by 14% (P = 0.000). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The direction of the socio-economic gradient for general licences and liquor stores in Perth is concerning, as all licences selling packaged alcohol were more abundant in disadvantaged areas. However, the over-representation of packaged liquor in disadvantaged areas may relate to the increased provision of retail.

Built Environment and Physical Activity

The urban design of places where people live, work and play can make a significant difference to health and wellbeing. The influence of city planning on transport mode choice, access to open space, walkability and other characteristics of the built environment on chronic diseases and their risk factors—particularly physical activity through walking—and on environmental sustainability, is now the subject of a large body of research. However, gaps and methodological shortcomings in this literature remain, and urban research finding are still rarely used by decision-makers to plan cities. This article reviews research in this field over the last decade and proposes areas and methods for future inquiry including research methods that are relevant to policy and practice.