@article{ref1,
title="Neighborhood incivilities, perceived neighborhood safety, and walking to school among urban-dwelling children",
journal="Journal of physical activity and health",
year="2011",
author="Rossen, Lauren M. and Pollack, Keshia M. and Curriero, Frank C. and Shields, Timothy M. and Smart, Mieka J. and Furr-Holden C, Debra M. and Cooley-Strickland, Michele R.",
volume="8",
number="2",
pages="262-271",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Walking to school is an important source of physical activity among children. There is a paucity of research exploring environmental determinants of walking to school among children in urban areas. <br><br>METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data (2007) from 365 children in the &quot;Multiple Opportunities to Reach Excellence&quot; (MORE) Study (8 to 13 years; Mean 9.60 years, SD 1.04). Children and caregivers were asked about walking to school and perceived safety. <br><br>OBJECTIVE measures of the environment were obtained using a validated environmental neighborhood assessment. <br><br>RESULTS: Over half (55.83%) of children reported walking to school most of the time. High levels of neighborhood incivilities were associated with lower levels of perceived safety (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.72). Living on a block above the median in incivilities was associated with a 353% increase in odds of walking to school (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.68 to 7.39). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Children residing in neighborhoods high in incivilities are more likely to walk to school, in spite of lower levels of perceived safety. As a high proportion of children residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods walk to school, efforts should be directed at minimizing exposure to neighborhood hazards by ensuring safe routes to and from school.  KW: SW2S<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1543-3080",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}