Relationship between the objectively-assessed neighborhood area and activity behavior in Swiss youth

Abstract

Background: Neighborhood attributes are modifiable determinants of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB). We tested whether the objectively-assessed built and social environment was associated with PA and SB in Swiss youth and whether sex, age and the socioeconomic position (Swiss-SEP) modified such associations.

Methods: We combined data of 1742 youth (ages 4 to 17) from seven studies conducted within Switzerland between 2005-2010. All youth provided accelerometer data and a home address, which was linked to objective environmental data and the Swiss-SEP-index. Associations between neighborhood attributes and PA were analyzed by multivariable multilevel regression analyses.

Results: The extent of green areas and building density was positively associated with PA in the total sample (p < 0.05). Factors representing centrally located areas, and more schoolchildren living nearby tended to increase PA in secondary schoolchildren, boys and those from lower-ranked socioeconomic areas. In primary schoolchildren, the extent of green areas was positively associated with PA (p = 0.05). Associations between neighborhood attributes and PA were more pronounced in youth from low socioeconomic areas.

Conclusions: The results indicate that some associations between neighborhood attributes and PA differ by age, sex and socioeconomic area. This should be taken into account when planning interventions to increase childhood PA.

Keywords: Accelerometer; BMI, body mass index; IPEN, International Physical Activity and Environment Network; MVPA, moderate to vigorous physical activity; Neighborhood; PA, physical activity; Physical activity; SB, sedentary behavior; SES, socioeconomic status; Sedentary behavior; Socioeconomic environment; Swiss SEP, Swiss neighborhood index of socioeconomic position; TPA, total physical activity; Youth; cpm, counts per minute; ha, hectare.

Fig. 1

Stratified analyses by age-group, sex and neighborhood socioeconomic position class for neighborhood. Regression coefficients^a and 95% confidence intervals for total physical activity are given by environmental attribute. Legend: cpm counts per minute. SEP neighborhood socioeconomic position. ^a for an increase of one interquartile range (from the 25th to the 75th percentile) of each environmental factor. * significant interaction (likelihood ratio test < 0.1). All studies were conducted in Switzerland between 2005 and 2010.