Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account
Abstract Background Individual health behavior is related to environmental and social structures. To promote physical activity (PA) effectively, it is necessary to consider structural influences. Previous research has shown the relevance of the built environment. However, sex/gender differences have...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00915-z |
| _version_ | 1818493120431521792 |
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| author | Antonina Tcymbal Yolanda Demetriou Anne Kelso Laura Wolbring Kathrin Wunsch Hagen Wäsche Alexander Woll Anne K. Reimers |
| author_facet | Antonina Tcymbal Yolanda Demetriou Anne Kelso Laura Wolbring Kathrin Wunsch Hagen Wäsche Alexander Woll Anne K. Reimers |
| author_sort | Antonina Tcymbal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Individual health behavior is related to environmental and social structures. To promote physical activity (PA) effectively, it is necessary to consider structural influences. Previous research has shown the relevance of the built environment. However, sex/gender differences have yet not been considered. The aim of this systematic review was to identify built environmental determinants of PA by taking sex/gender into account. Methods A systematic literature search was carried out using six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Knowledge) to identify studies analyzing the effect of changes in the built environment on PA, taking sex/gender into account. To be included, studies had to be based on quantitative data and a longitudinal study design. Changes in the built environment had to be objectively assessed. The methodological quality of the studies was examined using the QualSyst tool for examining risk of bias. Results In total, 36 studies published since 2000 were included in this review. The data synthesis revealed that the majority of reviewed studies found the built environment to be a determinant of PA behavior for both, males and females, in a similar way. Creating a new infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transportation showed a positive effect on PA behavior. Findings were most consistent for the availability of public transport, which was positively associated with overall PA and walking. The improvement of walking and cycling infrastructure had no effect on the overall level of PA, but it attracted more users and had a positive effect on active transportation. In women, the availability of public transport, safe cycling lanes, housing density, and the distance to daily destinations proved to be more relevant with regard to their PA behavior. In men, street network characteristics and road environment, such as intersection connectivity, local road density, and the presence of dead-end roads, were more important determinants of PA. Conclusion This review sheds light on the relevance of the built environment on PA. By focusing on sex/gender differences, a new aspect was addressed that should be further analyzed in future research and considered by urban planners and other practitioners. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:51:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18f16480a9d04b9abfbb47c4a92f6342 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1342-078X 1347-4715 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T17:51:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | Komiyama Printing Co. Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-18f16480a9d04b9abfbb47c4a92f63422022-12-22T01:39:03ZengKomiyama Printing Co. LtdEnvironmental Health and Preventive Medicine1342-078X1347-47152020-11-0125112510.1186/s12199-020-00915-zEffects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into accountAntonina Tcymbal0Yolanda Demetriou1Anne Kelso2Laura Wolbring3Kathrin Wunsch4Hagen Wäsche5Alexander Woll6Anne K. Reimers7Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-University University Erlangen-NurembergDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of MunichDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of MunichInstitute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-University University Erlangen-NurembergAbstract Background Individual health behavior is related to environmental and social structures. To promote physical activity (PA) effectively, it is necessary to consider structural influences. Previous research has shown the relevance of the built environment. However, sex/gender differences have yet not been considered. The aim of this systematic review was to identify built environmental determinants of PA by taking sex/gender into account. Methods A systematic literature search was carried out using six electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Knowledge) to identify studies analyzing the effect of changes in the built environment on PA, taking sex/gender into account. To be included, studies had to be based on quantitative data and a longitudinal study design. Changes in the built environment had to be objectively assessed. The methodological quality of the studies was examined using the QualSyst tool for examining risk of bias. Results In total, 36 studies published since 2000 were included in this review. The data synthesis revealed that the majority of reviewed studies found the built environment to be a determinant of PA behavior for both, males and females, in a similar way. Creating a new infrastructure for walking, cycling, and public transportation showed a positive effect on PA behavior. Findings were most consistent for the availability of public transport, which was positively associated with overall PA and walking. The improvement of walking and cycling infrastructure had no effect on the overall level of PA, but it attracted more users and had a positive effect on active transportation. In women, the availability of public transport, safe cycling lanes, housing density, and the distance to daily destinations proved to be more relevant with regard to their PA behavior. In men, street network characteristics and road environment, such as intersection connectivity, local road density, and the presence of dead-end roads, were more important determinants of PA. Conclusion This review sheds light on the relevance of the built environment on PA. By focusing on sex/gender differences, a new aspect was addressed that should be further analyzed in future research and considered by urban planners and other practitioners.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00915-zHealth equityActive transportActive commutingMenWomenBuilt environment |
| spellingShingle | Antonina Tcymbal Yolanda Demetriou Anne Kelso Laura Wolbring Kathrin Wunsch Hagen Wäsche Alexander Woll Anne K. Reimers Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Health equity Active transport Active commuting Men Women Built environment |
| title | Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account |
| title_full | Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account |
| title_fullStr | Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account |
| title_short | Effects of the built environment on physical activity: a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex/gender into account |
| title_sort | effects of the built environment on physical activity a systematic review of longitudinal studies taking sex gender into account |
| topic | Health equity Active transport Active commuting Men Women Built environment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00915-z |
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