Associations between physical activity in adults and walkability of the neighborhood

Abstract

The aim: to study associations between physical activity in adults with the walkability of the neighborhood, as well as to assess modifying effects of socio-economic and individual characteristics on these associations. Methods. In total, 1263 residents of Kemerovo city aged 35-70 years participated in a cross-sectional study. Subjective assessment of the infrastructure of the area of residence was assessed using the Russian version of the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS). Physical activity was assessed over the past 7 days using the Russian version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Logistic regression was applied to study associations between independent variables and the outcome as well as effect modifications. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results. The frequency of reporting car driving was 27.7 %, bicycle riding-3.6 % (8.8 % during summer months), participation in transport walking-85.5 %, recreational walking-57.8 %, sports and physical exercises-26.9 %. Sufficient walking levels were reported by 72.4 % of participants. Walking for more than 150 minutes per week with an was associated with better walkability, but only in a cold season (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.39-2.57). The influence of the residence area on participation in sports and physical exercises is modified by income level: for low-income individuals, the relationship is statistically significant (OR = 1.44; 95 % CI: 1.05-1.97), in contrast to the individuals with high income. Conclusions. Living in areas with high walkabiity is positively associated with participation in transport and recreational walking, sports and is negatively associated with the use of cars and bicycles. Associations between walkability of the neighborhood and physical activity variy significantly by gender, age, income and the season.