Citation

Veitch J, Ball K, Crawford D, Abbott G, Salmon J. Prev. Med. 2013; 57(5): 732-734.

Affiliation

Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.001

PMID

23933224

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This aim of this study was to examine whether frequency of park visitation was associated with time spent in various domains of physical activity among adults living in a disadvantaged neighbourhood of Victoria, Australia. METHODS: In 2009, participants (n=319) self-reported park visitation and physical activity including; walking and cycling for transport, leisure-time walking, leisure-time moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity, and total physical activity. RESULTS: The mean number of park visits per week was 3.3 (SD=3.8). Park visitation was associated with greater odds of engaging in high (as compared to low) amounts of transportation physical activity, leisure-time walking, leisure-time moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity. Each additional park visit per week was associated with 23% greater odds of being in the high category for transportation physical activity, 26% greater odds of engaging in high amounts of leisure-time walking, 11% greater odds of engaging in MVPA, and 40% greater odds of high total physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Acknowledging the cross-sectional study design, the findings suggest that park visitation may be an important predictor and/or destination for transportation and leisure-time walking and physical activity. Findings highlight the potentially important role of parks for physical activity.

Language: en