Open AccessDo Neighborhood Physical Activity Resources and Land Use Influence Physical Activity among African American Public Housing Residents?
Author(s) -
Nathan Parker,
Daniel P. O’Connor,
Dennis Kao,
Rebecca E. Lee
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of health care for the poor and underserved
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.511
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1548-6869
pISSN - 1049-2089
DOI - 10.1353/hpu.2016.0135
Subject(s) - diversity (politics) , geography , built environment , physical activity , land use , destinations , multilevel model , environmental health , level design , socioeconomics , business , gerontology , medicine , political science , sociology , civil engineering , tourism , archaeology , human–computer interaction , machine learning , game design , computer science , law , physical medicine and rehabilitation , engineering
Few studies have examined neighborhood influences on physical activity (PA) among low-income African Americans living in public housing. This study measured the associations of PA resources and land use with PA among 216 African Americans living in 12 low-income housing developments in Houston, Texas. Neighborhood measures included both detailed information from in-person audits and geographic information systems (GIS) data. Hierarchical linear regression models tested the associations of neighborhood PA resource availability and quality and land use density and diversity with individual-level, self-reported PA. Land use diversity was positively associated with walking among men after controlling for other neighborhood characteristics. Policies that promote land use diversity or improve the pedestrian environment in areas with diverse destinations may encourage PA among public housing residents.