Perceived neighborhood environment and leisure time physical activity among adults from Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze the association between perceived neighborhood characteristics and leisure time physical activity (PA) and the moderator effect of gender, age, schooling and time spent working/studying on perceived environment and leisure PA in adults. This is a cross-sectional study conducted with 699 adults (53.1% women), distributed from 32 census tracts selected according to walkability and neighborhood income characteristics in Curitiba. Perceived neighborhood characteristics were assessed using the Brazilian version of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated (A-NEWS). Leisure time PA was evaluated through the long-version IPAQ and walking and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were analyzed separately. PA classification considered ≥10 minutes/week and ≥150 minutes/week of walking or MVPA. Associations were tested using a multilevel logistic binary model. After adjusting for potential confounders, aesthetics perception was associated with ≥10 minutes/week of walking. Additionally, access to public places for leisure remained associated with ≥10 minutes/week and ≥150 minutes/week of MVPA. The relationship between perceived access to public spaces, walking and MVPA were stronger in women and younger adults. It is concluded that a better perception of neighborhood aesthetics was associated with the practice of walking and access to public spaces with the practice of MVPA, respectively.

摘要 本研究旨在分析居民感知邻里特征与闲暇时间身体活动（Physical Activity, PA）的关联，以及性别、年龄、受教育程度和工作/学习时长对感知环境与成年人闲暇身体活动的调节效应。本研究为横断面研究，共纳入699名成年人（女性占比53.1%），研究对象选自库里蒂巴市依据步行友好性与社区收入特征筛选出的32个人口普查区域。居民感知邻里特征采用巴西版简版邻里环境步行性量表（Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated, A-NEWS）进行评估。闲暇时间身体活动通过长版国际体力活动问卷（International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ）进行评估，且分别对步行活动与中高强度身体活动（Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity, MVPA）展开分析。本研究中身体活动的分类标准为：每周步行或中高强度身体活动时长≥10分钟，以及每周步行或中高强度身体活动时长≥150分钟。关联分析采用多层二元logistic回归模型进行检验。在对潜在混杂因素进行校正后，社区审美感知与每周≥10分钟的步行活动存在显著关联。此外，休闲公共场所可达性与每周≥10分钟和≥150分钟的中高强度身体活动均存在显著关联。感知公共空间可达性与步行活动、中高强度身体活动之间的关联，在女性与年轻成年人中更为显著。综上，对社区审美环境的良好感知与步行活动的参与相关，而休闲公共场所可达性则分别与中高强度身体活动的参与相关。