Neighborhood environmental attributes and adults' sedentary behaviors: Review and research agenda.

Mohammad Javad Koohsari, Takemi Sugiyama, Shannon Sahlqvist, Suzanne Mavoa, Nyssa Hadgraft, Neville Owen

Journal: Preventive medicine 2016;77():141-9

PMID: 26051198

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Physical activity recommendations are beginning to address sedentary behaviors - time spent sitting. Environmental and policy initiatives for physical activity might assist in addressing sedentary behaviors, but sedentary-specific innovations may be required. This review synthesizes current evidence on associations of neighborhood environmental attributes with adults' sedentary behaviors.

METHODS

A search was conducted using three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Transport Research Information Services). Relevant articles were assessed for their eligibility for inclusion (English-language articles with a quantitative examination of associations of neighborhood environmental attributes with adults' sedentary behaviors).

RESULTS

Within 17 studies meeting inclusion criteria, associations of environmental attributes with sedentary behaviors were examined in 89 instances. Significant associations were found in 28% (n=25) of them; however, non-significant associations were found in 56% (n=50) of these instances. The most consistent association was for lower levels of sedentary behavior among residents of urban compared to regional areas.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a modest but mixed initial evidence in associations of neighborhood environmental attributes with adults' sedentary behaviors. A research agenda required for this emerging field should include the development of more relevant conceptual models, measuring domain-specific sedentary behavior objectively, examining environments in close vicinity of and a larger area around home, and the use of prospective designs.

Address: Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Design Innovation, Faculty of Health Arts & Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].; Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Design Innovation, Faculty of Health Arts & Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.; Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.; McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.; Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia.; Behavioural Epidemiology Laboratory, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Population Health, the University of Queensland, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, Monash University, Australia.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.05.027

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MeSH Terms: Environment Design, Exercise, Health Behavior, Humans, Residence Characteristics, Sedentary Behavior, Urban Population, Walking