Stephanie T. West

Rural and urban park visits and park-based physical activity.

OBJECTIVE A physical activity disparity exists between rural and urban residents. Community parks are resources for physical activity because they are publicly provided, available at a low cost, and accessible to most residents. We examine the use of and physical activity outcomes associated with rural and urban parks. METHODS Onsite observations were conducted using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) at four rural and four urban parks. Momentary sampling scans were conducted four times per day for seven days at each site. RESULTS A total of 6,545 park visitors were observed. Both rural and urban park visitors were observed more often at larger parks with paved trails and attended most often on weekends. Rural park visits were more frequent than urban park visits but rural visits were less physically active. CONCLUSION Although similarities were observed between rural and urban park visits, differences suggest that findings from park and physical activity studies in urban areas should not be considered representative of their rural counterparts. Given that the majority of existing park and physical activity research has been undertaken in urban settings, the need for complementary research in rural settings has been made evident through this presentation of baseline descriptive data.

Extra-Individual Correlates of Physical Activity Attainment in Rural Older Adults.

CONTEXT Challenged with a higher incidence of disease, reduced social support, and less access to physical activity facilities and services, rural older adults may find healthy active living a challenge. Despite these challenges, some rural older adults manage to achieve active lifestyles. PURPOSE This study investigates the relative importance of 4 extra-individual correlates of physical activity to physical activity achievement in rural seniors. METHODS Data were drawn from mail questionnaires completed by 454 adults age 65 and over in 7 rural North Carolina counties. FINDINGS Results from an analysis of covariance indicate that respondents who approached CDC/ACSM recommended levels of physical activity were significantly more likely to report that they lived within walking distance to parks, perceived they had transportation to physical activity areas, had a partner with whom to be active, and felt activity facilities were safe. Next, 7 extra-individual correlates of physical activity were entered into a backward logistic regression. The resultant model predicting physical activity achievement among rural older adults included social support for physical activity, a safe environment for physical activity, and reported ability to walk to a local park. CONCLUSIONS Interventions designed to provide social support, heighten safety at activity areas and improve park infrastructure may provide opportunities to increase physical activity among seniors.

Improving the physical activity and nutrition environment through self-assessment (NAP SACC) in rural area child care centers in North Carolina

OBJECTIVE To determine if child care centers in rural, Western North Carolina met recommendations for nutrition and physical activity, if focusing on nutrition and physical activity practices and policies was effective in improving the center environment, and if differences existed between centers affiliated or unaffiliated with schools. METHODS Of 33 child care centers in three counties, 29 submitted mini-grant requests and participated in a pre-post evaluation using Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC). NAP SACC assesses compliance for nutrition and physical activity recommendations and standards. Between October 2011 and April 2012, centers participated in workshops and goal setting specific to nutrition and physical activity. RESULTS At baseline, over 95% of the centers met all recommendations. However, post-intervention, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test (p<0.05) indicated significant improvement across center types in five out of 37 nutrition and seven out of 17 physical activity standards following the intervention. Centers unaffiliated with schools made significant changes in ten nutrition standards, while those affiliated with schools improved in only two standards and decreased on one standard. CONCLUSION Overall, rural child care centers in Western North Carolina were meeting standards, they were still able to strengthen policies and practices by following NAP SACC. This was especially true for centers unaffiliated with schools. Continued financial support may assist centers in sustaining increased physical activity in children.

The Role of Moral Philosophies, Operational Criteria and Operational Strategies in Determining Equitable Allocation of Resources for Leisure Services in the United States

Abstract This paper revises an earlier taxonomy of equity models that was published in this journal in 1988. This revised taxonomy consists of three elements. First, it extends the original taxonomy by proposing a set of moral philosophies, positioning them as antecedents of the operational strategies that determine equity outcomes. Six are identified: Rawlsian, egalitarianism, benefit principle, utilitarianism, libertarianism and paternal professionalism. It is suggested that communitarianism offers a philosophical basis for reconciling some of the antithetical perspectives embedded in these six moral philosophies. A second element in the taxonomy suggests the operational criterion flowing from each of the moral philosophies when it is adapted as the basis for policy decisions regarding the allocation of resources to leisure services. The third element identifies 14 operational strategies that determine equity outcomes. Their linkage to operational criteria and moral philosophies is shown. Potential equity consequences and implications of the operational strategies are illustrated and compared by use of a scenario relating the allocation of resources to park land acquisition.

Does Building a Greenway Promote Physical Activity Among Proximate Residents

BACKGROUND Previous research has observed a positive correlation between having greenways or trails proximate to homes and the physical activity behaviors among residents. Few studies using a pre-post research design have been conducted, and each has pointed to the need for more rigorous studies which incorporate an appropriate control group. METHODS Residents from households living within 1 mile of a proposed greenway and those from a control neighborhood located between 2 and 3 miles of the proposed greenway were randomly selected to participate in the study. Participants were mailed a survey before the onset of construction and again 1 year after the trail was opened. Outcomes were the number of days during the previous week that respondents reported participating in walking, moderate activity, and vigorous activity. RESULTS Repeated measures analyses of variance indicated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in days of walking, moderate activity, or vigorous activity before and after the greenway was constructed. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that building a greenway did not affect the physical activity behaviors of proximate residents. Other studies should consider different trail types from a variety of settings to determine whether physical activity behavior changes may be context specific.

Who ought to receive what? An instrument to assess a community's preferred strategy for allocating leisure service resources

All are likely to agree that resources for public leisure services should be allocated equitably, that is, fairly. Equity is a pseudo-cognate term in that many who use it assume that everyone has the same intuitive definition of it. This is a fallacious assumption. There are multiple and diverse interpretations of what is meant by equity. Since interpretations reflect value systems, they are likely to vary across communities. This article develops an instrument that will enable professionals to identify the preferred interpretation in their community. It proposes a taxonomy of five broad equity perspectives with nine operationalisations of the construct. A classic scale development procedure was used to measure the nine operational strategies. The empirical procedures failed to develop measures for two of the operationalisations but they verified the reliability, dimensionality and validity of 23 items measuring the remaining seven equity operationalisations: Economically Disadvantaged, Equality, Taxes Paid, Direct Price, Efficiency, Advocacy and Professional Judgement.

“We’re a Family and that Gives Me Joy”: Exploring Interpersonal Relationships in Older Women’s Softball Using Socio-Emotional Selectivity Theory

AbstractResearch suggests that leisure provides a vehicle for women to develop friendships in later life, yet little research has explored older women’s experiences of social connection in a team s...

A Life Course Examination of Women’s Team Sport Participation in Late Adulthood

This study contributes to the fields of aging and physical activity by applying the key principles of the life course perspective to investigate womens team sport participation experience in late adulthood. Through focus groups, data were collected from six competitive softball teams of women (N = 64) ranging from 55 to 79 years old. Data were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed for themes related to the life course principles of historical context and place, social embeddedness, agency, as well as trajectories and timing. A key study finding was that the women experienced cultural lag and age-related barriers to resources when playing competitive softball in late adulthood. In addition, the network of shared relationships occupied by these women had both positive and negative influences on their participation in competitive sports. Study findings can help inform services and programs at the local community level aimed at enhancing womens physical activity and health in late adulthood.

The Use of Geocaching as a Form of Physical Activity in Youth

ABSTRACT Background: In order to promote physical activity among youth, it is critical that communities offer options beyond sports that still provide similar health benefits. Purpose: Given the appeal of technology among today’s youth, the purpose of our study was to evaluate geocaching as a technology-based platform for promoting physical activity in youth. Methods: High school youth (N = 31) participated in 2 separate activity sessions, walking and geocaching. Accelerometers were worn and questions concerning perceived exertion and enjoyment were addressed at both sessions. Results: Although repeated measures t tests (P < .05) revealed no significant differences between activity sessions, each session yielded approximately 60 minutes of physical activity in a relatively inactive sample of youth. Additionally, the youth from the study reported that both walking and geocaching were enjoyable and relatively easy activities. Discussion: Results from this study do not suggest that geocaching would lead to greater activity levels than walking. Rather, geocaching was found to promote activity levels similar to walking. Translation to Health Education Practice: Given its use of technology and its application of challenge, geocaching may instead generate more interest than walking, leading to an increased interest among youth and, ultimately, an associated potential for additional physical activity.

A Socioecological Approach to Women's Participation in Competitive Softball during Middle and Late Adulthood: Implications for the Future

Informed by a socioecological framework, this qualitative study contributes to the fields of allied health and aging by identifying the factors that influence older womens participation in competitive softball. Focus groups were conducted with 6 teams of women (N = 64) ranging in age from 55 to 79 years. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically. Results revealed issues of recruitment, access to resources, and breaking age-related cultural stereotypes. Knowledge from this study can offer insight into how allied health professionals might mitigate these issues to promote competitive sports alternatives for future cohorts of aging women.