Neighborhood environmental characteristics and sedentary behavior in later life: the EpiFloripa Study / Características do ambiente do bairro e comportamento sedentário em idosos: o estudo EpiFloripa

Little is known about the relationship between perceived environmental characteristics and seden-tary behavior (SB) using accelerometry in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived neighborhood environmental characteristics and SB using acceler-ometry in 423 older adults from Florianopolis, Brazil. The time spent in SB was measured by an accelerometer (Actigraph-GT3X and GT3X+) for seven days and it was defined as < 100 counts per minute. Neighborhood characteristics were assessed using the 17-item of the A-NEWS scale. Lin-ear regression was used to examine the association between perceived neighborhood environmental characteristics and SB. The results showed that older adults spent about 631.9 minutes/day in SB which corresponds to 66% of their waking time/day. Men who reported "access to shops" (ß = -66.87; 95%CI: -113.80; -19.66), "access to services" (ß = -65.65; 95%CI: -118.63; -12.61), "access to food shops" (ß = -78.38; 95%CI: -123.79; -32.93) and "access to bus stop" (ß = -66.69; 95%CI: -110.32; -22.95) spent over one hour less in SB. In women, lower SB was associated to easier "access to clubs and gyms" (ß = -24.57; 95%CI: -48.13; -0.89) and "access to open spaces gyms" (ß = -31.67 95%CI: -58.80; -4.21). These findings indicate that better access and greater diversity of places in the neighborhood environment could be an important factor to reduce SB in older Brazilian adults

Pouco se conhece sobre a associação entre características do ambiente e comportamento sedentário (CS) medido por acelerometria em idosos. Esse estudo objetiva analisar a associação entre as características do ambiente percebido e CS em idosos de Florianópolis, Brasil. Participaram 423 idosos (62,1% mulheres) de Florianó-polis, selecionados entre os participantes do Projeto EpiFloripa. O tempo despendido em CS foi mensurado por acelerometria (Actigraph-GT3X e GT3X+) por sete dias, considerado como CS abaixo de 100 counts. As características da vizinhança foram medidas por 17 itens da escala A-NEWS. Análise de regressão linear foi utilizada para testar a associação entre o as características percebidas do ambiente da vizinhança e o CS. Para essa finalidade foi usado o software Stata 13.0, utilizando o comando "svy" para amostra complexas e considerando pesos amostrais. Os resultados mostram que os idosos passam em média 631,9minutos/dia em CS, o que representa cerca de 66% do tempo em que estão acordados. Para os homens que reportaram perceber a presença de "comércio de venda produtos" (ß = -66,87; IC95%: -113,80; -19,66), "comércio de serviços" (ß = -65,65; IC95%: -118,63; -12,61), "comércio de venda de alimentos" (ß = -78,38; IC95%: -123,79; -32,93) e "presença de pontos de ônibus" (ß = -66,69; IC95%: -110,32; -22,95) o CS foi de aproximadamente uma hora a menos do que os que não percebem estes atributos do ambiente. Entre as mu-lheres idosas o menor CS foi associado com a "presença de clubes e academias" (ß = -24,57; IC95%: -48,13; -0,89), "presença de academias ao ar livre" (ß = -31,67; IC95%: -58,80; -4,21). Os resultados indicam que melhores acessos e maior diversidade de lugares no ambiente da vizinhança podem ser fatores importantes para reduzir o CS em idosos

Comparative Study on the Perception of the Neighborhood Environment and Experience of Out-of-School Activities between Typical Students and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Patients

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences between a attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group and a general student group in terms of the perception of the residential environment and periodic activities outside the classroom. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 62 outpatients or inpatients at the Department of Pediatric Psychiatry, and 49 patients diagnosed with ADHD were selected. For the control group, 3727 youths in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools of one city were asked to fill out questionnaires. Of the 1717 respondents who responded to the questionnaires, 245 were selected for a patient-controlled study. The differences between the patient group and the control group were compared using the chi-squared test (χ2 test). RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the patient group and the control group in areas where students responded by “My neighborhood is dirty and littered (p < 0.05)”. There was also a significant difference between the patient group and the control group in terms of having more than one club activity per month (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the patients with ADHD are more aware of perceived negative aspects of the area in which they reside, thus reflecting their anxiety. In addition, it was also found that the patient group did not partake in as many social activities as the control group.

Association between Residents\rq Perception of the Neighborhood\rqs Environments and Walking Time in Objectively Different Regions

Objective: The purpose of this study is to delineate the association between residents’ perception of the neighborhood’s environments and walking time in objectively different regions in Japan. Methods: Two regions were selected as high and low walkable regions on the basis of differences in their residential density, mixed land use and street connectivity. The subjects in this study were participants in a health promotion program focused on walking sponsored by local governments. A questionnaire was sent to the participants asking about how their perception of the neighborhood’s environment related to walking, and the time spent walking per week. There were 237 residents from the high walkable region and 195 from the low walkable region who completed the study survey. Results: The high walkable region had a larger residential density, a high mixed land use and a higher street connectivity than the low walkable region. Walking time, and the scores of the perception of the neighborhood’s environment for the high walkable region residents were significantly higher than those for the low walkable region residents. Thus, residents’ perception of the neighborhood’s environment generally reflected the actual physical environmental characteristics. Residents in the high walkable region whose scores for accessibility and aesthetics were high, spent significantly more walking time. Residents in the low walkable region whose scores for accessibility, safety, convenience and aesthetics were high, spent significantly more walking time. Conclusion: The study results suggested that the neighborhood’s environment may influence daily walking time. The perceptions of the neighborhood’s environmental factors that correlate with walking times differ between the different regional physical environments. Therefore, to promote physical activity, the consideration of environmental factors unique to residents’ neighborhood’s environments is needed.

Association between residents' perception of the neighborhood's environments and walking time in objectively different regions

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study is to delineate the association between residents' perception of the neighborhood's environments and walking time in objectively different regions in Japan.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two regions were selected as high and low walkable regions on the basis of differences in their residential density, mixed land use and street connectivity. The subjects in this study were participants in a health promotion program focused on walking sponsored by local governments. A questionnaire was sent to the participants asking about how their perception of the neighborhood's environment related to walking, and the time spent walking per week. There were 237 residents from the high walkable region and 195 from the low walkable region who completed the study survey.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The high walkable region had a larger residential density, a high mixed land use and a higher street connectivity than the low walkable region. Walking time, and the scores of the perception of the neighborhood's environment for the high walkable region residents were significantly higher than those for the low walkable region residents. Thus, residents' perception of the neighborhood's environment generally reflected the actual physical environmental characteristics. Residents in the high walkable region whose scores for accessibility and aesthetics were high, spent significantly more walking time. Residents in the low walkable region whose scores for accessibility, safety, convenience and aesthetics were high, spent significantly more walking time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The study results suggested that the neighborhood's environment may influence daily walking time. The perceptions of the neighborhood's environmental factors that correlate with walking times differ between the different regional physical environments. Therefore, to promote physical activity, the consideration of environmental factors unique to residents' neighborhood's environments is needed.</p>

RELEVANCE OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMATION / 体力科学

<b><i>Background</i></b> A behavioral science-based approach is essential for constructing effective intervention programs to promote the shift from a sedentary to active lifestyle. Recently, the influences of social and physical environment on physical activity have been recognized as key factors for promoting physical activity. The present study attempts to identify the social and physical environmental influences associated with physical activity promotion.<b><i>Methods</i></b> We recruited volunteers from a 14,000 population of community-dwelling adults. Seventy-two adults (intervention group : n=35, control group : n=37) participated in the present study. The intervention consisted of 8 sessions for 2 months using <i>The Waseda Walking Program</i>. We assessed social support for exercise, perceived neighborhood environment for walking, stages of change in exercise behavior and physical activity outcomes at baseline and 2 months. Ffifty-seven out of 72 subjects (intervention : n=30, control : n=27) completed all of the intervention including the final questionnaire.<b><i>Results</i></b> There were significant intervention effects on physical activity outcomes, stages of change and perceived neighborhood environment. However, no significant improvement in social support was found. In addition, improvement of perceived physical environment was related to an increase in physical activity.<b><i>Conclusion</i></b> Perceived neighborhood environment for walking would be identified as a key factor to influence an effect of physical activity promotion. On the other hand, social support would be influenced to the earlier stages of change in exercise.