Elsevier

Health & Place

Volume 18, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 76-84
Health & Place

Investigating the impact of a smart growth community on the contexts of children's physical activity using Ecological Momentary Assessment

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2011.07.007Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research used Ecological Momentary Assessment with electronic surveys delivered through mobile phones to determine whether children change the type of contexts (i.e., settings) where they engage in physical activity after a recent move to a smart growth (SG) community in the U.S. as compared to children living in conventional low-to-medium density U.S. suburban communities (controls). SG vs. control children engaged in a greater proportion of physical activity bouts with friends, a few blocks from home, and at locations to which they walked. Over six months, the proportion of physical activity bouts reported at home (indoors) and in high traffic locations decreased among SG but not control children. Six-month increases in daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity did not significantly differ by group. Children might have altered the type of contexts where they engage in physical activity after moving to SG communities, yet more time may be necessary for these changes to impact overall physical activity.

Highlights

► We compare physical activity contexts between smart growth (SG) and conventional communities. ► We use Ecological Momentary Assessment with electronic surveys delivered through mobile phones. ► SG children are more physically active with friends, close to home, and at walkable locations. ► Over time, SG children report less physical activity at home and in high traffic locations. ► Urban design may influence where and with whom children engage in physical activity.

Keywords

Built environment
Social environment
Walking
Traffic

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