Abstract
Background
The purposes of this study were to: 1) explore the potential role of sex in the association between the perceived environment and walking; and 2) determine the efficacy of an Internet-based research platform for collecting population-level physical activity and correlates data.
Methods
Visitors to the Canada on the Move website were asked questions about their demographics, physical activity participation and perceptions of their neighbourhood environment. A total of 3,144 Canadians (2,036 women; 609 men) completed the survey. Level of walking was regressed on eight measures of perceived neighbourhood environment in a series of logistic regressions.
Results
Individuals who reported interesting scenery (OR=1.41, 95% CI 1.17–1.71) and many places to go that were within easy walking distance (OR=1.39, 95% CI 1.18–1.64) were more likely to report walking at a level sufficient to derive health benefits. For women, interesting scenery in and around their neighbourhood (OR=1.40, 95% CI 1.13–1.74) and the presence of many places to go within easy walking distance (OR=1.42, 95% CI 1.17–1.72) were associated with walking at a sufficient level. Among men, no significant associations were found between the perceived environment measures and walking.
Conclusions
The results from this study provide additional support for the use of models in which sex is treated as a potential moderator of the link between the perceived environment and physical activity. Further, the results support the use of an Internet-based research platform to collect data on the correlates of physical activity.
Electronic Supplementary Material
Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/BF03405363 and is accessible for authorized users.
MeSH terms: Physical activity, walking, Internet, environment, sex factors, adults
Résumé
Contexte
Cette étude visait: 1) à analyser le rôle possible des sexospécificités dans l’association entre l’environnement perçu et la marche; et 2) à déterminer l’efficacité d’une plate-forme de recherche en ligne pour recueillir des données sur l’activité physique et leurs corrélats au niveau de la population.
Méthode
Les visiteuses et les visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement ont répondu à des questions sur leur profil démographique, leur niveau d’activité physique et leurs perceptions de leur quartier. En tout, 3 144 Canadiennes et Canadiens (2 036 femmes; 609 hommes) ont rempli le questionnaire. Nous avons analysé par régression logistique le niveau de marche selon huit mesures de l’environnement perçu du quartier.
Résultats
Les sujets ayant dit marcher dans un paysage intéressant (RC=1,41, IC de 95 %=1,17–1,71) et avoir accès à de nombreuses destinations à faible distance de marche (RC=1,39, IC de 95 %=1,18-1,64) étaient plus susceptibles de déclarer un niveau de marche suffisant pour procurer des avantages sur le plan de la santé. Chez les femmes, un paysage intéressant dans le quartier et aux alentours (RC=1,40, IC de 95 %=1,13-1,74) et la présence de nombreuses destinations à faible distance de marche (RC=1,42, IC de 95 %=1,17-1,72) étaient associés à un niveau suffisant de marche. Chez les hommes, nous n’avons constaté aucune association significative entre les mesures subjectives de l’environnement et la marche.
Conclusions
Les résultats de cette étude plaident en faveur de l’utilisation de modèles où le sexe est traité comme un modérateur possible du lien entre l’environnement perçu et l’activité physique. De plus, ces résultats appuient l’utilisation d’une plate-forme de recherche en ligne pour la collecte de données sur les corrélats de l’activité physique.
Mots clés: Activité physique, marche, Internet, environnement, facteurs liés au sexe, adultes
French language version/Version en Français
Corrélats subjectifs de la marche et du quartier chez les visiteurs du site Web de Canada en mouvement
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge Leonor S. Tavares and Jennifer Burgess.
Sources of support: This research was supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the University of Alberta.
Remerciements: Les auteurs remercient Mmes Leonor S. Tavares et Jennifer Burgess.
Sources d’aide financière: Cette recherche a bénéficié de l’aide financière des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada et de l’Université de l’Alberta.
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