Physical Activity and Physical Activity and the Environmentthe Environment

EPHE 348EPHE 348

So what’s the big deal?So what’s the big deal?

The rise of social cognition theoriesThe rise of social cognition theories

Back to the behaviorists? Back to the behaviorists?

Big picture ecologyBig picture ecology

Blaming the Individual?Blaming the Individual?

Environmental Factors

Interpersonal Factors

Intrapersonal Factors

Policy Factors

Streaming of Streaming of InterventionsInterventions

(McKinlay & Marceau, 2000)(McKinlay & Marceau, 2000)

Upstream:National Level Policies (laws)

Midstream:Community, Worksite, Physician Policies

Downstream:Self-regulation Intervention, Persuasion of Lifestyle Choice

EnvironmentEnvironment

Climate (small but consistent change in Climate (small but consistent change in PA)PA)

Suburbia – noticeable issueSuburbia – noticeable issue

Point of decision prompts have good Point of decision prompts have good evidence (still small #s)evidence (still small #s)

What is important to the What is important to the Built Environment….?Built Environment….?

List in groups……List in groups……

Features of the Features of the Neighborhood?Neighborhood?

Movement/flow (connectivity)Movement/flow (connectivity) AestheticsAesthetics SafetySafety QualityQuality Access to retailAccess to retail Access to recreationAccess to recreation

Victoria: Victoria: (Rhodes et al. 2006, 2007)(Rhodes et al. 2006, 2007)Table 1 Bivariate correlations between selected perceived environment variables and walking. Environment Variable M SD Correlation

with Walking

Land-Mix Use (Retail) 3.31 0.93 .13* Land-Mix Use (Recreation) 3.48 0.74 .06 Walking Infrastructure 3.36 0.94 .01 Quality Neighbourhood Aesthetics 3.42 0.81 .14* Traffic Safety 1.70 0.87 .01 Crime 1.70 0.83 -.04 Note: * p < .01.

Canada: Canada: (CFLRI, 2006)(CFLRI, 2006)

More than 90% of schools have access to More than 90% of schools have access to gymnasiums, playing fields, or permit access gymnasiums, playing fields, or permit access to their outdoor facilities outside of school to their outdoor facilities outside of school hours.hours.

80% of municipalities indicate that there are 80% of municipalities indicate that there are multi-use trails and paths available for multi-use trails and paths available for physical activity that prohibit motorized traffic. physical activity that prohibit motorized traffic.

Overall Results:Overall Results:

Duncan & Spence (2005)Duncan & Spence (2005) Meta-analysis of physical activity & built Meta-analysis of physical activity & built

environment showed very small-trivial ESenvironment showed very small-trivial ES Some reliable but small results around aesthetics Some reliable but small results around aesthetics

and accessand access Personal and Social factors contribute most to PAPersonal and Social factors contribute most to PA Choice has been shown as an important variable Choice has been shown as an important variable Not linked to exercise Not linked to exercise

Future DirectionsFuture Directions

1) Natural experiments (community 1) Natural experiments (community environment change)environment change)

2) Integration with inter- and intra-2) Integration with inter- and intra-personal constructs….personal constructs….

Proximity to RetailProximity to Retail(Rhodes, Brown & McIntyre, 2006; Rhodes et al., 2007)(Rhodes, Brown & McIntyre, 2006; Rhodes et al., 2007)

Walking

Planning

Intention

.42

Proximity to Retail

.18 .75

Affective Attitude

.45

Instrumental

Attitude .31

Subjective

Norm

PBC

.26

.20

.19

.25

.17

.12

.38

.75

Infrastructure

Quality

Aesthetics

Proximity to Recreation Proximity to Recreation (Rhodes et al., 2006; Rhodes et al., 2007)(Rhodes et al., 2006; Rhodes et al., 2007)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Intentions

Walking

Low Proximity toRecreation

High Proximity toRecreation

Home EnvironmentHome Environment

Evidence for a relationship with PA and Evidence for a relationship with PA and home equipmenthome equipment

Jakicic et al. (1999) showed experimental Jakicic et al. (1999) showed experimental evidence for this effectevidence for this effect

Canine Canine Environment…..?Environment…..?

What about dog ownership?What about dog ownership?

Dog Ownership and Dog Ownership and Physical Activity Physical Activity (Brown & Rhodes, (Brown & Rhodes, 2006)2006)

Examined the relationship between walking, and Examined the relationship between walking, and physical activity between people who owned dogs, physical activity between people who owned dogs, and those who did not own dogs in the Capital and those who did not own dogs in the Capital Region District of Greater VictoriaRegion District of Greater Victoria

A random sample of men (n = 177) and women (n = A random sample of men (n = 177) and women (n = 174) aged 20-80 years participated174) aged 20-80 years participated

Dog owners defined as primary Dog owners defined as primary caregiver of the dogcaregiver of the dog

Table 1

Descriptive Statistics for Dog Owners and Non-Dog Owners for Walking and Physical Activity. Source F(1, 350) Mean (SD) d Dog Non-dog Mild walking frequency (# of times) 28.00* 4.99 (6.50) 2.20 (2.96) 0.71

Moderate walking frequency 13.93* 3.76 (4.43) 2.29 (2.43) 0.50

Strenuous walking frequency 1.96 0.66 (1.24) 0.45 (1.04) 0.19

Total mild walking minutes (freq x duration) 26.15* 137.79 (182.72) 59.27 (89.43) 0.69

Total moderate walking minutes 7.93* 136.39 (164.46) 89.55 (111.54) 0.38

Total strenuous walking minutes 0.269a 28.43 (64.19) 19.80 (60.79) 0.14

Total walking minutes 32.42* 300.18 (223.38) 168.38 (163.62) 0.74

Total mild physical activity (freq x duration) 10.58a* 155.62 (189.30) 96.41 (131.37) 0.41

Total moderate physical activity 6.91* 164.93 (179.79) 115.21 (129.54) 0.35

Total strenuous physical activity 0.28a 82.71 (108.05) 72.30 (127.19) 0.08

Total physical activity (all levels) 11.33a* 410.28 (230.50) 287.52 (239.21) 0.57

Walking beyond IntentionWalking beyond Intention

Intention Walking

Responsibility

DogOwnership

UVIC Study: Dog Walking and UVIC Study: Dog Walking and Park Use in Victoria Park Use in Victoria Wharf Higgins et Wharf Higgins et al. submittedal. submitted

Limit of Self-reportLimit of Self-report

Study observed six parks in the CRD over good and Study observed six parks in the CRD over good and bad weather conditionsbad weather conditions

Results showed huge difference from weather in non-Results showed huge difference from weather in non-dog owners but no difference for ownersdog owners but no difference for owners

Dog owners were on the move whereas non-owners Dog owners were on the move whereas non-owners where very mixed in movement profiles…where very mixed in movement profiles…

What Can We Do with These What Can We Do with These Results? Results?

Can’t tell people to go out and buy a dog!Can’t tell people to go out and buy a dog!

Can we promote dog walking among current Can we promote dog walking among current owners?owners?

Approximately 20% of the Canadian population Approximately 20% of the Canadian population (Stats Can, 2004)(Stats Can, 2004)

30-50% of dog owners do not walk their dogs30-50% of dog owners do not walk their dogs

UVIC studyUVIC study

Collaborators (Holly Tuokko, Michelle Collaborators (Holly Tuokko, Michelle Porter, Vivienne Temple, Joan Wharf Porter, Vivienne Temple, Joan Wharf Higgins)Higgins)

Can we promote walking through dog Can we promote walking through dog responsibility?responsibility?

Use of GPS tracking and pedometers Use of GPS tracking and pedometers

Dog Ownership: Physical Activity and Health Dog Ownership: Physical Activity and Health RecruitmentRecruitment

150 Dog owners who do not regularly walk their dog 150 Dog owners who do not regularly walk their dog will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups:will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups:

Control Group Experimental Group A:Dog Dental Health

Experimental Group B:Dog Physical Activity

- Baseline questionnaire- Wear pedometer for 1 week

- Baseline questionnaire- Wear pedometer for 1 week- Dog dental health brochure

- Baseline questionnaire- Wear pedometer for 1 week- Dog physical activity brochure

6 Weeks later: All groups will receive a brief questionnaire to track their physical activity

At three months all groups will receive a follow up questionnaire package including a questionnaire and pedometer to be worn for one week.