Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers
Abstract Background Low physical activity levels and high levels of sedentary time among adolescents call for population wide interventions. Public open spaces can be important locations for adolescents’ physical activity. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, frequency and context of public...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-018-0123-2 |
| _version_ | 1828848062488903680 |
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| author | Linde Van Hecke Hannah Verhoeven Peter Clarys Delfien Van Dyck Nico Van de Weghe Tim Baert Benedicte Deforche Jelle Van Cauwenberg |
| author_facet | Linde Van Hecke Hannah Verhoeven Peter Clarys Delfien Van Dyck Nico Van de Weghe Tim Baert Benedicte Deforche Jelle Van Cauwenberg |
| author_sort | Linde Van Hecke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Low physical activity levels and high levels of sedentary time among adolescents call for population wide interventions. Public open spaces can be important locations for adolescents’ physical activity. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, frequency and context of public open space visitation and to gain insight into the individual, social and physical environmental factors associated with public open space use among 12- to 16-year-old Flemish (Belgian) adolescents. Methods Global positioning system devices, accelerometers and one-on-one interviews were used to measure location-specific activity levels, time spent at, reasons for using and accompaniment at public open spaces among 173 adolescents. Multilevel hurdle and gamma models were used to estimate the associations between the independent variables (age, gender, ethnicity, education, sport club membership and accompaniment) and the amount of time, sedentary time, light-, moderate- to vigorous- and vigorous-intensity physical activity at public open spaces. Results Three out of four participants had visited a public open space (for recreational purposes) and participants were most often accompanied by friends/classmates. Mainly public transportation stops/stations were used, and subsequently the most reported reason for public open space use was “to wait for something or someone”. Furthermore, boys, younger adolescents, non-western-European adolescents and lower educated adolescents were more likely to use public open spaces. Additionally, boys and younger adolescents were more likely to accumulate physical activity at public open spaces. The only social environmental variable associated with time spent at public open spaces was accompaniment by siblings: adolescents spent more time at public open spaces when accompanied by their siblings. Conclusions Public open spaces may be effective areas to promote physical activity among groups at risk for physical inactivity (i.e. low educated and non-western-European adolescents). Additionally, girls and older adolescents were less likely to visit and be physically active at public open spaces. Therefore, urban planners should consider adding attractive features, in order to encourage physical activity among girls and older adolescents at public open spaces. Furthermore, creating public open spaces that are attractive for youth of all ages could contribute to adolescents visiting public open spaces accompanied by siblings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:22:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e56d9e784a40450b83508a1eadbfce9f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-072X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:22:34Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Health Geographics |
| spelling | doaj.art-e56d9e784a40450b83508a1eadbfce9f2022-12-22T00:09:52ZengBMCInternational Journal of Health Geographics1476-072X2018-01-0117111610.1186/s12942-018-0123-2Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometersLinde Van Hecke0Hannah Verhoeven1Peter Clarys2Delfien Van Dyck3Nico Van de Weghe4Tim Baert5Benedicte Deforche6Jelle Van Cauwenberg7Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent UniversityPhysical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit BrusselFund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO)Department of Geography – CartoGIS, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent UniversityFund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO)Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent UniversityAbstract Background Low physical activity levels and high levels of sedentary time among adolescents call for population wide interventions. Public open spaces can be important locations for adolescents’ physical activity. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, frequency and context of public open space visitation and to gain insight into the individual, social and physical environmental factors associated with public open space use among 12- to 16-year-old Flemish (Belgian) adolescents. Methods Global positioning system devices, accelerometers and one-on-one interviews were used to measure location-specific activity levels, time spent at, reasons for using and accompaniment at public open spaces among 173 adolescents. Multilevel hurdle and gamma models were used to estimate the associations between the independent variables (age, gender, ethnicity, education, sport club membership and accompaniment) and the amount of time, sedentary time, light-, moderate- to vigorous- and vigorous-intensity physical activity at public open spaces. Results Three out of four participants had visited a public open space (for recreational purposes) and participants were most often accompanied by friends/classmates. Mainly public transportation stops/stations were used, and subsequently the most reported reason for public open space use was “to wait for something or someone”. Furthermore, boys, younger adolescents, non-western-European adolescents and lower educated adolescents were more likely to use public open spaces. Additionally, boys and younger adolescents were more likely to accumulate physical activity at public open spaces. The only social environmental variable associated with time spent at public open spaces was accompaniment by siblings: adolescents spent more time at public open spaces when accompanied by their siblings. Conclusions Public open spaces may be effective areas to promote physical activity among groups at risk for physical inactivity (i.e. low educated and non-western-European adolescents). Additionally, girls and older adolescents were less likely to visit and be physically active at public open spaces. Therefore, urban planners should consider adding attractive features, in order to encourage physical activity among girls and older adolescents at public open spaces. Furthermore, creating public open spaces that are attractive for youth of all ages could contribute to adolescents visiting public open spaces accompanied by siblings.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-018-0123-2Global positioning devicePhysical activitySedentary timeYouthLeisure timePublic spaces |
| spellingShingle | Linde Van Hecke Hannah Verhoeven Peter Clarys Delfien Van Dyck Nico Van de Weghe Tim Baert Benedicte Deforche Jelle Van Cauwenberg Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers International Journal of Health Geographics Global positioning device Physical activity Sedentary time Youth Leisure time Public spaces |
| title | Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers |
| title_full | Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers |
| title_fullStr | Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers |
| title_short | Factors related with public open space use among adolescents: a study using GPS and accelerometers |
| title_sort | factors related with public open space use among adolescents a study using gps and accelerometers |
| topic | Global positioning device Physical activity Sedentary time Youth Leisure time Public spaces |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12942-018-0123-2 |
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