Correlates of walking and cycling for transport and recreation: factor structure, reliability and behavioural associations of the perceptions of the environment in the neighbourhood scale (PENS)

Abstract

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that walking and cycling for different purposes such as transport or recreation may be associated with different attributes of the physical environment. Few studies to date have examined these behaviour-specific associations, particularly in the UK. This paper reports on the development, factor structure and test-retest reliability of a new scale assessing perceptions of the environment in the neighbourhood (PENS) and the associations between perceptions of the environment and walking and cycling for transport and recreation.MethodsA new 13-item scale was developed for assessing adults’ perceptions of the environment in the neighbourhood (PENS). Three sets of analyses were conducted using data from two sources. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to identify a set of summary environmental variables using data from the iConnect baseline survey (n = 3494); test-retest reliability of the individual and summary environmental items was established using data collected in a separate reliability study (n = 166); and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the associations of the environmental variables with walking for transport, walking for recreation, cycling for transport and cycling for recreation, using iConnect baseline survey data (n = 2937).ResultsFour summary environmental variables (traffic safety, supportive infrastructure, availability of local amenities and social order), one individual environmental item (street connectivity) and a variable encapsulating general environment quality were identified for use in further analyses. Intraclass correlations of these environmental variables ranged from 0.44 to 0.77 and were comparable to those seen in other similar scales. After adjustment for demographic and other environmental factors, walking for transport was associated with supportive infrastructure, availability of local amenities and general environment quality; walking for recreation was associated with supportive infrastructure; and cycling for transport was associated only with street connectivity. There was limited evidence of any associations between environmental attributes and cycling for recreation.ConclusionPENS is acceptable as a short instrument for assessing perceptions of the urban environment. Previous findings that different attributes of the environment may be associated with different behaviours are confirmed. Policy action to create supportive environments may require a combination of environmental improvements to promote walking and cycling for different purposes.

An ecological analysis of environmental correlates of active commuting in urban U.S.

“…Additionally, while tract greenness is not statistically significant for the all-tract model for public transportation, it shows a significant positive correlation when HI and LI tracts are estimated separately. These findings illustrate the complexity of the associations between environmental factors and different modes of AC by income status, and are consistent with suggestions from other researchers advocating that subdomains of PA need to be studied separately because aggregating the subdomains may mask important underlying differences in how environmental factors affect different types of PA (Sallis and Glanz, 2006, Van Cauwenberg et al, 2011, Bauman et al, 2012, Adams et al, 2013). These findings also support the need to investigate HI and LI neighborhoods separately because combining them can obscure the more detailed relationships that are different in not only effect size but also effect direction (Cerin et al, 2009).…”

“…However, while consensus has begun to emerge on some environmental factors influencing total PA, few consistent correlates of AC have been identified (Bauman et al, 2012). Understanding correlates of specific domains of PA such as AC is important because evolving research has shown that the etiology of PA is complex and varies by domain, and different attributes of the environment are associated with activities being undertaken for different purposes and in different forms (Bauman et al, 2012, Adams et al, 2013, Sallis et al, 2006). …”

Development and validation of a tool to assess the rural neighborhood environment for obesity in Korean adults

“…Also, the ICC of social influence on physical activity (0.519) was the lowest, while accessibility to healthy food was the highest (0.775). The results of internal consistency and test–retest reliability were similar to or higher than that in previous studies that developed an environment assessment tool (Adams, Goodman, Sahlqvist, Bull, & Ogilvie, ; Carbonneau, Robitaille, Lamarche, Corneau, & Lemieux, ; De Silva Weliange, Fernando, & Gunatilake, ; Mujahid, Diez‐Roux, Morenoff, & Raghunathan ).…”

“…Regarding safe neighborhood, items regarding crime and general safety matters were included to assess neighborhood safety. Several previous studies included traffic safety (Adams et al, ; Ogilvie, Mitchell, Mutrie, Petticrew, & Platt, ; Spittaels et al, ), violence (Echeverria et al, ) as aspects of safety. Traffic safety items were included in the item generation process, but they were excluded during the experts’ validity testing, in a reflection of the characteristics of rural neighborhoods with a small traffic volume.…”

User decision-making in transitions to electrified, autonomous, shared or reduced mobility

“…walking or cycling, is the characteristics of the built environment, including interconnection or streets and accessibility, such as proximity to work and shops, and provision of parks and green spaces (Ewing & Cervero, 2010;Smith et al, 2017). However, how the built environment is viewed is also important, with perceived presence of local amenities and perceived supportive infrastructure (including convenient, pleasant walking routes) positively relating to increased walking, including within urban city-centre environments (Bornioli et al, 2018), and greater street connectivity positively relating to cycling (Adams et al, 2013). Perceptions of risk are negatively associated with cycling, with the availability of segregated cycle paths moderating the association (Wardman et al, 2007).…”