Journal ArticleDOI
System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC): Reliability and Feasibility Measures
TLDR
SOPARC is a reliable and feasible instrument for assessing physical activity and associated contextual data in community settings and met acceptable criteria for area contexts.Abstract:
Background: New tools are needed to examine physical activity and the contexts in which it occurs. Community parks contribute to physical activity, but measuring activity and associated variables in them is challenging because area contexts change and the numbers and characteristics of users are highly variable. Methods: We developed SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities) and tested its use by observing 16,244 individuals in 165 park areas. Reliabilities included 472 simultaneous measures by independent observers. Results: Correlations between observers on number of area participants was 0.99 for female and male park users. Reliabilities (i.e., percent agreement) for age (89%, females; 85%, males), race/ethnic (80%, females; 82%, males), and activity level (80%, females; 88%, males) groupings met acceptable criteria. Reliabilities for area contexts (i.e., usable, accessible, supervised, organized, equipped) exceeded 94%. Conclusions: SOPARC is a reliable and feasible instrument for assessing physical activity and associated contextual data in community settings.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
How important is perception of safety to park use? A four-city survey:
Sandra C. Lapham,Deborah A. Cohen,Bing Han,Stephanie Williamson,Kelly R. Evenson,Thomas L. McKenzie,Amy Hillier,Phillip Ward +7 more
TL;DR: Modifying park facilities may have a greater population impact than improving perceptions of park safety, consistent with studies suggesting that increasing the variety of park facilities and offering more organised activities may encourage physical activity among specific target groups.
Journal ArticleDOI
Disparities in Built and Natural Features of Urban Parks: Comparisons by Neighborhood Level Race/Ethnicity and Income
Candice M. Bruton,Myron F. Floyd +1 more
TL;DR: Examination of natural and built park characteristics across areas of different race/ethnicity and income composition showed some evidence of disparities in park characteristics that can inform park policy and design as well as renovations and maintenance procedures.
Journal ArticleDOI
Assessing the social and physical contexts of children's leisure-time physical activity: an ecological momentary assessment study.
TL;DR: The most frequently reported contexts for children's leisure time physical activity were outdoors and with family members and friends together.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Role of Park Conditions and Features on Park Visitation and Physical Activity
TL;DR: Evidence is provided regarding characteristics of parks that can contribute to achieving physical activity goals within recreational spaces that can be positively and negatively associated with each outcome.
Journal ArticleDOI
Understanding Older Adults’ Usage of Community Green Spaces in Taipei, Taiwan
Eryn Pleson,Laura M. Nieuwendyk,Karen K. Lee,Anuradha Chaddah,Candace I. J. Nykiforuk,Donald Schopflocher +5 more
TL;DR: This exploratory study sought to better understand older adults’ usage and perceptions of community green spaces in Taipei, Taiwan, through direct observations of seven green spaces and nineteen structured interviews, which support the following recommendations for age-friendly active living initiatives for older adults.
References
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Barbara E. Ainsworth,William L. Haskell,Melicia C. Whitt,Melinda L. Irwin,A. M. Swartz,Scott J. Strath,O'Brien Wl,David R. Bassett,Kathryn H. Schmitz,Patricia O. Emplaincourt,David R. Jacobs,Arthur S. Leon +11 more
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The continuing epidemics of obesity and diabetes in the United States.
TL;DR: The prevalence of obesity and diabetes continues to increase among US adults, and interventions are needed to improve physical activity and diet in communities nationwide.
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Environmental factors associated with adults' participation in physical activity: a review
TL;DR: Physical environment factors have consistent associations with physical activity behavior and further development of ecologic and environmental models, together with behavior-specific and context-specific measurement strategies, should help in further understanding of these associations.
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Environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity
TL;DR: In this article, a model describing the development of policy and environmental interventions is proposed, in the hope of stimulating more research in this area, and two studies showed that placing signs encouraging stair use can be effective.
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The significance of parks to physical activity and public health: a conceptual model.
TL;DR: A conceptual model is proposed to guide thinking and suggest hypotheses about the relationships between park benefits, park use, and physical activity, and the antecedents/correlates of park use that focus on park environmental characteristics that could be related to physical activity.