Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis
Abstract Background Parks are a key setting for physical activity for children. However, little is known about which park features children prefer and which features are most likely to encourage them to be active in parks. This study examined the relative importance of park features among children f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01203-x |
| _version_ | 1818916580925374464 |
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| author | Jenny Veitch Kylie Ball Elise Rivera Venurs Loh Benedicte Deforche Anna Timperio |
| author_facet | Jenny Veitch Kylie Ball Elise Rivera Venurs Loh Benedicte Deforche Anna Timperio |
| author_sort | Jenny Veitch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Parks are a key setting for physical activity for children. However, little is known about which park features children prefer and which features are most likely to encourage them to be active in parks. This study examined the relative importance of park features among children for influencing their choice of park for engaging in park-based physical activity. Methods Children (n = 252; 8-12 years, 42% male) attending three primary schools in Melbourne, Australia completed a survey at school. They were required to complete a series of Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint analysis tasks, with responses used to identify the part-worth utilities and relative importance scores of selected park features using Hierarchical Bayes analyses within Sawtooth Software. Results For the overall sample and both boys and girls, the most important driver of choice for a park that would encourage them to be active was presence of a flying fox (overall conjoint analysis relative importance score: 15.8%; 95%CI = 14.5, 17.1), followed by a playground (13.5%; 95%CI = 11.9, 15.2). For the overall sample, trees for climbing had the third highest importance score (10.2%; 95%CI = 8.9, 11.6); however, swings had 3rd highest importance for girls (11.1, 95%CI = 9.3, 12.9) and an obstacle course/parkour area had the 3rd highest importance score for boys (10.7, 95%CI = 9.0, 12.4). For features with two levels, part-worth utility scores showed that the presence of a feature was always preferred over the absence of a feature. For features with multiple levels, long flying foxes, large adventure playgrounds, lots of trees for climbing, large round swings, large climbing equipment, and large grassy open space were the preferred levels. Conclusion To ensure parks appeal as a setting that encourages children to engage in physical activity, park planners and local authorities and organisations involved in park design should prioritise the inclusion of a long flying fox, large adventure playgrounds, lots of trees for climbing, large round swings and obstacle courses/parkour areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T00:20:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-749b2d1576f64c8eb668736dae26fbed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T00:20:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-749b2d1576f64c8eb668736dae26fbed2022-12-21T20:00:12ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682021-10-0118111110.1186/s12966-021-01203-xUnderstanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysisJenny Veitch0Kylie Ball1Elise Rivera2Venurs Loh3Benedicte Deforche4Anna Timperio5Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin UniversityInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin UniversityInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin UniversityInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent UniversityInstitute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin UniversityAbstract Background Parks are a key setting for physical activity for children. However, little is known about which park features children prefer and which features are most likely to encourage them to be active in parks. This study examined the relative importance of park features among children for influencing their choice of park for engaging in park-based physical activity. Methods Children (n = 252; 8-12 years, 42% male) attending three primary schools in Melbourne, Australia completed a survey at school. They were required to complete a series of Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint analysis tasks, with responses used to identify the part-worth utilities and relative importance scores of selected park features using Hierarchical Bayes analyses within Sawtooth Software. Results For the overall sample and both boys and girls, the most important driver of choice for a park that would encourage them to be active was presence of a flying fox (overall conjoint analysis relative importance score: 15.8%; 95%CI = 14.5, 17.1), followed by a playground (13.5%; 95%CI = 11.9, 15.2). For the overall sample, trees for climbing had the third highest importance score (10.2%; 95%CI = 8.9, 11.6); however, swings had 3rd highest importance for girls (11.1, 95%CI = 9.3, 12.9) and an obstacle course/parkour area had the 3rd highest importance score for boys (10.7, 95%CI = 9.0, 12.4). For features with two levels, part-worth utility scores showed that the presence of a feature was always preferred over the absence of a feature. For features with multiple levels, long flying foxes, large adventure playgrounds, lots of trees for climbing, large round swings, large climbing equipment, and large grassy open space were the preferred levels. Conclusion To ensure parks appeal as a setting that encourages children to engage in physical activity, park planners and local authorities and organisations involved in park design should prioritise the inclusion of a long flying fox, large adventure playgrounds, lots of trees for climbing, large round swings and obstacle courses/parkour areas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01203-xParksGreen spacesActiveChildrenUrbanAttributes |
| spellingShingle | Jenny Veitch Kylie Ball Elise Rivera Venurs Loh Benedicte Deforche Anna Timperio Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Parks Green spaces Active Children Urban Attributes |
| title | Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| title_full | Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| title_fullStr | Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| title_short | Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| title_sort | understanding children s preference for park features that encourage physical activity an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis |
| topic | Parks Green spaces Active Children Urban Attributes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01203-x |
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