Neighbourhood safety and leisure-time physical activity among Dutch adults: a multilevel perspective

Abstract

BackgroundSeveral neighbourhood elements have been found to be related to leisure-time walking and cycling. However, the association with neighbourhood safety remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the association of neighbourhood-level safety with leisure-time walking and cycling among Dutch adults.MethodsData were derived from the national health survey (POLS) 2006–2009, with valid data on 20046 respondents residing in 2127 neighbourhoods. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine the association between neighbourhood-level safety (general safety and specific safety components: physical disorder, social disorder, crime-related fear, traffic safety) and residents’ engagement in outdoor leisure-time walking and cycling for at least 30 minutes per week.ResultsAn increase in neighbourhood safety (both general safety and each of the safety components) was significantly associated with an increase in leisure-time cycling participation. Associations were strongest for general safety and among older women. In the general population, neighbourhood safety was not significantly associated with leisure-time walking. However, among younger and older adult men and lower educated individuals, an increase in general safety was associated with a decrease in leisure-time walking participation.ConclusionsIn the Netherlands, neighbourhood safety appears to be related to leisure-time cycling but not to walking. Leisure-time cycling may best be encouraged by improving different safety components at once, rather than focusing on one safety aspect such as traffic safety. Special attention is needed for older women.

Perceived neighbourhood environmental attributes associated with adults׳ recreational walking: IPEN Adult study in 12 countries

“…Recent single-country studies reported mixed findings on this topic. Studies in Brazil (Gomes et al, 2011), Japan (Inoue et al, 2011), and The Netherlands (Kramer et al, 2013) showed no association of safety from crime with walking for recreation, but results from Nigeria (Oyeyemi et al, 2012) and the USA (Evenson et al, 2012) supported an interpretation that crime is an important correlate of physical activity. It is possible that the present study was able to identify a significant association because data were gathered from diverse countries, thus expanding the range of variation.…”

“…The finding of no association between safety from traffic and recreational walking is consistent with previous studies (Saelens and Handy, 2008; Sugiyama et al, 2012). A recent study in the Netherlands found traffic safety to be associated with recreational cycling but not with recreational walking (Kramer et al, 2013). It is possible that traffic safety is a construct consisting of several dimensions, such as traffic volume, speed, and facilities for protecting and separating pedestrians and cyclists from traffic.…”

Adverse experiences in childhood, adulthood neighbourhood disadvantage and health behaviours

“…A common pathway for both observed associations can be through social stressors. In childhood, exposure to social class related stressors may affect biological systems and thus health in the long-term36; in the neighbourhood level, high crime rates, for example, may increase smoking prevalence37 and low safety may decrease physical activity 38…”

Mapping the development of research on physical activity and the built environment

“…Objective and perceived environment characteristics have been found to be associated with the likelihood of physical activity in high-income countries (Hoehner, et al, 2005, Baker, et al, 2008, Bedimo-Rung, et al, 2005, Roux, et al, 2007, Kramer, et al, 2013). Recent evidence identifying a relationship between physical activity and the built environment has also emerged from low and middle-income countries, suggesting widespread importance (Hallal, et al, 2012, Gomez, et al, 2010, Parra, et al, 2010, Parra, et al, 2011).…”