Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity
BackgroundAlthough few United States adults meet physical activity recommendations, those that do are more likely to access to physical activity facilities. Additionally, vigorous exercisers may be more likely to utilize a nearby physical activity facility, while light-to-moderate exercisers are les...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00319/full |
| _version_ | 1818821224598339584 |
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| author | Katie M. Heinrich Christopher K. Haddock Natinee Jitnarin Joseph Hughey LaVerne A. Berkel Walker S. C. Poston |
| author_facet | Katie M. Heinrich Christopher K. Haddock Natinee Jitnarin Joseph Hughey LaVerne A. Berkel Walker S. C. Poston |
| author_sort | Katie M. Heinrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundAlthough few United States adults meet physical activity recommendations, those that do are more likely to access to physical activity facilities. Additionally, vigorous exercisers may be more likely to utilize a nearby physical activity facility, while light-to-moderate exercisers are less likely to do so. However, it is unclear what characteristics of those facilities are most important as well as how those characteristics are related to activity intensity.PurposeThis study examined relationships between self-reported leisure-time physical activities and the use of and perceived characteristics of physical activity facilities.MethodsData were from a cross-sectional study in a major metropolitan area. Participants (N = 582; ages 18–74, mean age = 45 ± 14.7 years) were more likely to be female (69.9%), Caucasian (65.6%), married (51.7%), and have some college education (72.8%). Household surveys queried leisure-time physical activity, regular physical activity facility use, and importance ratings for key facility characteristics.ResultsLeisure-time physical activity recommendations were met by 41.0% of participants and 50.9% regularly used a physical activity facility. Regular facility use was positively associated with meeting walking (p = 0.036), moderate (p < 0.001), and vigorous (p < 0.001) recommendations. Vigorous exercisers were more likely to use a gym/fitness center (p = 0.006) and to place higher importance on facility quality (p = 0.022), variety of physical activity options offered (p = 0.003), and availability of special equipment and resources (p = 0.01). The facility characteristics of low or free cost (p = 0.02) and offering childcare (p = 0.028) were barriers for walking, and being where friends and family like to go were barriers for moderate leisure-time physical activity (p = 0.013).ConclusionFindings offer insights for structuring interventions using the social ecological model as well as for improving existing physical activity facilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:04:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c954182c2f74d45bae1f5d24ca9ec87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:04:48Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c954182c2f74d45bae1f5d24ca9ec872022-12-21T20:48:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652017-11-01510.3389/fpubh.2017.00319296257Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical ActivityKatie M. Heinrich0Christopher K. Haddock1Natinee Jitnarin2Joseph Hughey3LaVerne A. Berkel4Walker S. C. Poston5Functional Intensity Training Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United StatesInstitute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, United StatesInstitute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, United StatesDepartment of Architecture, Urban Planning + Design, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United StatesDepartment of Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, United StatesInstitute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Leawood, KS, United StatesBackgroundAlthough few United States adults meet physical activity recommendations, those that do are more likely to access to physical activity facilities. Additionally, vigorous exercisers may be more likely to utilize a nearby physical activity facility, while light-to-moderate exercisers are less likely to do so. However, it is unclear what characteristics of those facilities are most important as well as how those characteristics are related to activity intensity.PurposeThis study examined relationships between self-reported leisure-time physical activities and the use of and perceived characteristics of physical activity facilities.MethodsData were from a cross-sectional study in a major metropolitan area. Participants (N = 582; ages 18–74, mean age = 45 ± 14.7 years) were more likely to be female (69.9%), Caucasian (65.6%), married (51.7%), and have some college education (72.8%). Household surveys queried leisure-time physical activity, regular physical activity facility use, and importance ratings for key facility characteristics.ResultsLeisure-time physical activity recommendations were met by 41.0% of participants and 50.9% regularly used a physical activity facility. Regular facility use was positively associated with meeting walking (p = 0.036), moderate (p < 0.001), and vigorous (p < 0.001) recommendations. Vigorous exercisers were more likely to use a gym/fitness center (p = 0.006) and to place higher importance on facility quality (p = 0.022), variety of physical activity options offered (p = 0.003), and availability of special equipment and resources (p = 0.01). The facility characteristics of low or free cost (p = 0.02) and offering childcare (p = 0.028) were barriers for walking, and being where friends and family like to go were barriers for moderate leisure-time physical activity (p = 0.013).ConclusionFindings offer insights for structuring interventions using the social ecological model as well as for improving existing physical activity facilities.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00319/fullbuilt environmentphysical activityguidelines and recommendationspublic healthrecreation |
| spellingShingle | Katie M. Heinrich Christopher K. Haddock Natinee Jitnarin Joseph Hughey LaVerne A. Berkel Walker S. C. Poston Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity Frontiers in Public Health built environment physical activity guidelines and recommendations public health recreation |
| title | Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity |
| title_full | Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity |
| title_short | Perceptions of Important Characteristics of Physical Activity Facilities: Implications for Engagement in Walking, Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity |
| title_sort | perceptions of important characteristics of physical activity facilities implications for engagement in walking moderate and vigorous physical activity |
| topic | built environment physical activity guidelines and recommendations public health recreation |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00319/full |
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