Development and validation of the neighborhood environment walkability scale for youth across six continents

Abstract

BackgroundThe IPEN International Physical Activity and Environment Network Adolescent project was conducted using common study protocols to document the strength, shape, and generalizability of associations of perceived neighborhood environment attributes with adolescents’ physical activity and overweight/obesity using data from 15 countries. Countries did not use identical versions of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (NEWS-Y) to measure perceived neighborhood environment attributes. Therefore, this study derived a measurement model for NEWS-Y items common to all IPEN Adolescent countries and developed a scoring protocol for the IPEN Adolescent version of the NEWS-Y (NEWS-Y-IPEN) that maximizes between-country comparability of responses. Additionally, this study examined between- and within-country variability, and construct validity of the NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales in relation to neighborhood-level socio-economic status and walkability.MethodsAdolescents and one of their parents (N = 5714 dyads) were recruited from neighborhoods varying in walkability and socio-economic status. To measure perceived neighborhood environment, 14 countries administered the NEWS-Y to parents and one country to adolescents. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to derive comparable country-specific measurement models of the NEWS-Y-IPEN. Country-specific standard deviations quantified within-country variability in the NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales, while linear mixed models determined the percentage of subscale variance due to between-country differences. To examine the construct validity of NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales, we estimated their associations with the categorical measures of area-level walkability and socio-economic status.ResultsFinal country-specific measurement models of the factor-analyzable NEWS-Y-IPEN items provided acceptable levels of fit to the data and shared the same factorial structure with five latent factors (Accessibility and walking facilities; Traffic safety; Pedestrian infrastructure and safety; Safety from crime; and Aesthetics). All subscales showed sufficient levels of within-country variability. Residential density had the highest level of between-country variability. Associations between NEWS-Y-IPEN subscales and area-level walkability and socio-economic status provided strong evidence of construct validity.ConclusionsA robust measurement model and common scoring protocol of NEWS-Y for the IPEN Adolescent project (NEWS-Y-IPEN) were derived. The NEWS-Y-IPEN possesses good factorial and construct validity, and is able to capture between-country variability in perceived neighborhood environments. Future studies employing NEWS-Y-IPEN should use the proposed scoring protocol to facilitate cross-study comparisons and interpretation of findings.

International Physical Activity and Built Environment Study of adolescents: IPEN Adolescent design, protocol and measures

“…Though the NEWS self-report environment surveys have been widely used internationally, they were developed in the USA, so substantial adaptations were needed to reflect the range of international environmental attributes, and internationally comparable scoring protocols were developed. 29 IPEN Adolescent investigators were involved in the development and evaluation of versions of the NEWS for Africa, 86 87 India 88 89 and Europe. 90 The MAPS Global streetscape observation measure was developed and evaluated by IPEN Adolescent investigators for use in the study, 61 and we hope this measure will be used by other researchers worldwide.…”

“…A comprehensive description of survey measures used is provided in table 5 . The required core survey measures were the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth (adolescents and parents 29 ; public transport use, active transport to/from school, barriers to active transport to school, overall PA at and outside of school, sports teams, psychosocial measures for PA (benefits, barriers, efficacy, social support, enjoyment), sedentary activities, personal electronics and electronics in the bedroom, home equipment for activity and sports, reasons for moving to a neighbourhood (to account for self-selection of neighbourhoods), and key demographics for the adolescent and parent. Other survey measures were recommended and collected in some countries.…”

Family, school and individual characteristics associated with adolescents’ physical activity at school in Hong Kong: the iHealt(H) study

“…Data were drawn from the ‘international Healthy environments and active living in teenagers – (Hong Kong)’ [iHealt(H)] study, a contributor to the ‘International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN) – Adolescent’ study that examined how the built environment is associated with adolescents’ PA and sedentary behaviour [ 22 ]. As the methods have been published previously [ 23 ], they shall be described in brief.…”

How Czech Adolescents Perceive Active Commuting to School: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The questionnaire on activities was developed for the purpose of the SONIAA (Social norms intervention in the prevention of excessive sitting and the promotion of physical activity among Czech adolescents) project and was compiled from various internationally recognized surveys (e.g., HBSC [47], IPEN Adolescent (International Physical Activity and the Environment Network) [48,49], and YAP (Youth Activity Profile) [50,51]). The questionnaire was designed to measure various domains of PA and sedentary behavior, with a focus on the respondents' own behaviors and attitudes as well as their perception of PA and sedentary behavior in their peers.…”