Table 3.

Multivariate regression analyses of the association between the ECEC outdoor physical environment, children’s characteristics, and children’s activity levels.

Independent Variables	Standardized Regression Coefficient (β)
	Model 1 (‘Fixed Play Equipment’)		Model 2 (‘Portable Play Equipment’)		Model 3 (‘Natural Elements’)
	TPA	MVPA	TPA	MVPA	TPA	MVPA
	15.56 ***	13.04 ***	13.59 ***	11.19 ***	16.49 ***	12.80 ***
Child gender (ref = female)	9.63 *	8.97 **	-	8.42 **	8.85 *	7.79 **
Time (ref = baseline)	−5.63	−0.41	−11.62	−8.79	−3.88	−0.77
Intervention (ref = control)	2.04	3.56	−0.96	−17.91	−6.52	−4.42
Fixed tunnels (ref = not present)	−12.90 **	−12.07 ***	-	-	-	-
Fixed sandbox (ref = not present)	19.80 **	17.89 *** Child age (years)	-	-	-	-
Balls (ref = not present)	-	-	13.43 **	7.84 *	-	-
Twirling equipment (ref = not present)	-	-	−15.38 *	−12.92 *	-	-
Portable slides (ref = not present)	-	-	-	8.41 *	-	-
Portable floor play equipment (ref = not present)	-	-	-	8.16 *	-	-
Real grass (ref = not present)	-	-	-	-	14.46 **	10.04 **
Time x intervention	-	-		12.23 *	-	-

Notes. MVPA: moderate to vigorous physical activity; TPA: total physical activity; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. Model 1: fixed play equipment variables. Model 2: portable play equipment variables. Model 3: natural elements variables. Variables excluded because they were nonsignificant: fixed climbing structures; fixed see-saws; fixed slides; fixed play structure; fixed swings; fixed balancing beams; portable climbing structures; portable jumping equipment; portable floor play equipment (TPA only); portable push/pull toys; portable sand play toys; portable riding toys; portable slides (TPA only); fake grass; other plants; potted plants; vegetation; rocks; flower beds; trees; open areas; water play area; sloping grounds; variety in ground surface; playground built on different levels; size of outdoor space; interaction between time and intervention (except for portable play equipment as independent variable).