Girls' Perception of Physical Environment and Transportation
Author Information
Author(s): Kelly R. Evenson, Amanda S. Birnbaum, Ariane L. Bedimo-Rung, James F. Sallis, Carolyn C. Voorhees, Kimberly Ring, John P. Elder
Primary Institution: University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Hypothesis
The study aims to examine the reliability of a survey assessing perceptions of physical environmental factors and their association with physical activity and active transport to school among adolescent girls.
Conclusion
The study provides psychometric support for the questionnaire used to assess physical environmental factors and transportation, indicating that these factors are important correlates of physical activity and active transport to school among adolescent girls.
Supporting Evidence
- Girls who felt safe in their neighborhoods were more likely to report higher levels of physical activity.
- Access to recreational facilities was positively associated with physical activity levels.
- Perceptions of neighborhood aesthetics, such as the presence of trees and interesting sights, correlated with increased physical activity.
Takeaway
The study shows that how girls feel about their neighborhood's safety and facilities can affect how much they walk or bike to school and how active they are.
Methodology
The study used test-retest surveys with 610 sixth- and eighth-grade girls, assessing their perceptions of physical environmental factors and transportation, and analyzed associations with physical activity using mixed model logistic regression.
Potential Biases
Self-report measures may be subject to social desirability bias.
Limitations
The study is limited by potential confounders not measured, reliance on self-report measures, and its cross-sectional design.
Participant Demographics
Approximately half of the participants were in sixth grade and half in eighth grade, with a diverse racial/ethnic composition including 48.8% Caucasian, 18.7% Black, and 14.1% Hispanic.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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