Neighborhood poverty, park use, and park-based physical activity in a Southern California city

Increasing global urbanization limits interaction between people and natural environments, which may negatively impact population health and wellbeing. Urban residents who live near parks report better mental health. Physical activity (PA) reduces depression and improves quality of life. Despite PA’s protective effects on mental health, the added benefit of urban park use for PA is unclear. Thus, we examined whether park-based PA mediated associations between park proximity and mental distress among 3652 New York City residents (61.4% 45 + years, 58.9% female, 56.3% non-white) who completed the 2010–2011 Physical Activity and Transit (PAT) random-digit-dial survey. Measures included number of poor mental health days in the previous month (outcome), self-reported time to walk to the nearest park from home (exposure), and frequency of park use for sports, exercise or PA (mediator). We used multiple regression with bootstrap-generated 95% bias-corrected confidence intervals (BC CIs) to test for mediation by park-based PA and moderation by gender, dog ownership, PA with others, and perceived park crime. Park proximity was indirectly associated with fewer days of poor mental health via park-based PA, but only among those not concerned about park crime (index of moderated mediation = 0.04; SE = 0.02; 95% BC CI = 0.01, 0.10). Investment in park safety and park-based PA promotion in urban neighborhoods may help to maximize the mental health benefits of nearby parks.

Download Full-text

Attitudes About Perceived Park Safety Among Residents in Low-Income and High Minority Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhoods

Environment and Behavior ◽

10.1177/0013916518814291 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (6) ◽

pp. 639-665 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lisa Groshong ◽

Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis ◽

Andrew T. Kaczynski ◽

J. Aaron Hipp

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Low Income ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Kansas City ◽

Outdoor Recreation ◽

Green Space ◽

Park Use ◽

Structural Environment ◽

Safety Constraints

Parks benefit communities by supporting the physical, mental, and social health of their residents. This is especially important in urban areas, where parks provide essential access to green space, and especially among low-income populations who may lack alternative venues for outdoor recreation. However, although urban parks may ostensibly be accessible, their use can be influenced by factors including perceptions and realities of safety. This qualitative study explored the issue of safety as it relates to park use and park-based physical activity from six focus groups with 41 total participants in urban Kansas City, Missouri. As a facilitator to safety, participants described social interactions and structural environment factors. Safety constraints emerged along five main themes: violence, concerning behavior, lack of maintenance, lack of lighting, and traffic/busy roads. This study adds to the literature establishing safety as a complex and multidimensional factor influencing park usage and physical activity.

Download Full-text

A longitudinal examination of improved access on park use and physical activity in a low-income and majority African American neighborhood park

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2016.08.036 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 ◽

pp. S95-S100 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Courtney L. Schultz ◽

Sonja A. Wilhelm Stanis ◽

Stephen P. Sayers ◽

Lori A. Thombs ◽

Ian M. Thomas

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

African American ◽

Low Income ◽

Park Use ◽

Longitudinal Examination

Download Full-text

REVAMP: A natural experiment to examine the impact of park renewal on park-use and park-based physical activity

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport ◽

10.1016/j.jsams.2014.11.154 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. e146-e147 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Veitch ◽

J. Salmon ◽

A. Carver ◽

D. Crawford ◽

B. Giles-Corti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Natural Experiment ◽

Park Use ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Physical Activity in Arab Women in Southern California

European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing ◽

10.1016/j.ejcnurse.2010.03.002 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 263-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Rafat Qahoush ◽

Nancy Stotts ◽

Manal S Alawneh ◽

Erika Sivarajan Froelicher

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Southern California ◽

Arab Women

Download Full-text

How Does Park Use and Physical Activity Differ between Childhood and Adolescence? A Focus on Gender and Race-Ethnicity

Journal of Urban Health ◽

10.1007/s11524-019-00388-8 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 96 (5) ◽

pp. 692-702 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Oriol Marquet ◽

J. Aaron Hipp ◽

Claudia Alberico ◽

Jing-Huei Huang ◽

Elizabeth Mazak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Gender And Race ◽

Park Use ◽

Race Ethnicity

Download Full-text

Neighborhood Poverty Histories and Physical Activity Among Children: Findings From the Geographic Research on Wellbeing (GROW) Study

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/0890117120923948 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (8) ◽

pp. 876-885

Author(s):

Yeonwoo Kim ◽

Catherine Cubbin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Infant Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Mediation Effect ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neighborhood Poverty ◽

Poor Children

Purpose: Examine the association between neighborhood poverty histories and physical activity, and the moderation effect of family poverty and the mediation effect of built environments in such association. Design: A cross-sectional study of the Geographic Research on Wellbeing (2012-2013), a follow-up survey of statewide-representative Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (2003-2007). Setting: California. Participants: A total of 2493 women with children. Measures: Outcome measures are (1) daily leisure physical activity and (2) days of physical activity among children. An independent variable is poverty histories of census tract where the child resided. Mediators were mother-perceived social cohesion, mother-perceived neighborhood safety, distance to the closest park, and park acreage within 0.5 miles from the home. A moderator is family poverty. Analysis: Weighted regression analysis. Results: Family poverty was a significant moderator ( P < .05); poor children in neighborhoods with long-term moderate poverty, long-term high poverty, or increasing poverty (vs long-term low poverty) had greater odds of daily physical activity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, 1.50, 1.66, respectively). Nonpoor children in neighborhoods with long-term moderate poverty or increasing poverty (vs long-term low poverty) were associated with decreased odds of daily physical activity (OR = 0.61 and 0.44, respectively). Mediation associations were insignificant ( P > .05). Conclusion: The combined effect of family financial strains and neighborhood economic resources might prevent poor children in neighborhoods with long-term low poverty and decreasing poverty from utilizing health-promoting resources in neighborhoods.

Download Full-text

Walking in a winter wonderland? an assessment of winter maintenance and physical activity features in Smythe Park, Toronto

10.32920/ryerson.14653314 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Bianchi

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Low Income ◽

Strong Influence ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Winter Maintenance ◽

Park Use ◽

Dog Walking ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Park Quality

Objective. To determine how the features, conditions, and maintenance of a low-income park affect the use of the park for physical activity during the winter months. Method. Direct observation of park use; assessment of park quality based on a developed assessment tool; and supplementary surveys with park users. Results. The park lacked winter park features (e.g. ice rink, tobogganing hill) and supporting amenities (e.g. washrooms, rental facilities). There was evidence of winter maintenance, however, it was inconsistent: most trails were cleared of snow on all visits, but large ice patches were present and had not been cleared. The park was used primarily for walking and dog walking, although respondents noted that the lack of maintenance in the park affected if they used it for physical activity. Conclusion. Winter maintenance of parks and the presence of winter features affect park use, with snow removal, ice removal, and the presence of bathrooms having a strong influence on physical activity levels in the winter months. Park planners should consider year-round maintenance and programming in order to promote engagement in physical activity during all seasons.

Download Full-text

Activity in Nature Mediates a Park Prescription Intervention’s Effects on Physical Activity, Park Use and Quality of Life: A Mixed-Methods Process Evaluation

10.21203/rs.2.19807/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nick Petrunoff ◽

Jiali Yao ◽

Angelia Sia ◽

Alwyn Ng ◽

Anbumalar Ramiah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Process Evaluation ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Human Interaction ◽

Group Exercise ◽

Exercise Participation ◽

Park Use

Abstract Background: This process evaluation explored the implementation and mechanisms of impact of a Park Prescription intervention trial (PPI), including the effects of hypothesised mediators (motivation, social support, recreational physical activity [PA], park use and park PA ) on trial outcomes. Methods: Participants from the community were randomly allocated to intervention (n=80) or control (n=80) group. The intervention included baseline counselling, a prescription of exercise in parks, materials, three-month follow-up counselling and 26 weekly group exercise sessions in parks. Process evaluation indicators were assessed at three- and six-months. Implementation indicators included participation rates in intervention components and survey questions plus focus group discussions (FGDs) to understand which components participants valued. FGDs further assessed barriers and facilitators to intervention participation. To explore mechanisms of impact, linear regression was used to compare objectively measured PA between quantiles of group exercise participation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) explored hypothesised mediation of the significant intervention effects. Framework analysis was conducted for FGDs. Results: Participants were middle-aged (mean 51, SD ± 6.3 years), predominantly female (79%) and of Chinese ethnicity (81%). All intervention participants received baseline counselling, the park prescription and materials, whilst 94% received the follow-up counselling. Mean minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA/week (95% CI) differed by group exercise participation (p=0.018): 0% participation (n=18) 128.3 (69.3, 187.2) minutes, >0-35.9% participation (n=18) 100.3 (36.9, 163.6) minutes, >35.9-67.9% participation (n=17) 50.5 (-4.9, 105.9) minutes and >67.9% participation (n=18) 177.4 (122.0, 232.8) minutes. Park PA at three-months had significant mediating effects (95% CI) on recreational PA 26.50 (6.65, 49.37) minutes/week, park use 185.38 (45.40, 353.74) minutes/month, park PA/month 165.48 (33.14, 334.16) minutes and psychological quality of life score 1.25 (0.19, 2.69) at six-months. Prioritising time with family and preferences for unstructured activities were barriers to intervention participation. Human interaction via follow-up or group exercise were facilitators. Conclusion: This process evaluation showed park PA consistently mediated effects of the PPI, suggesting activity in parks was a mechanism of its effects. To optimise effectiveness, participants’ preference for prioritising time with family through family involvement and tailoring the intervention to participants’ preferences for structured or unstructured PA could be considered in future studies.

Download Full-text