Population levels of, and inequalities in, active travel: A national, cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland

Olsen, Jonathan; Mitchell, Richard; Mutrie, Nanette; Foley, Louise; Ogilvie, David

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.09.008

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Our findings of divergent patterns in the recreational and active transportation domains in the US correspond with similar patterns found among adults using the same datasets as the present study [35]. Likewise, the higher levels of active travel for boys in low-income households in England agrees with findings of a greater likelihood of active travel among adults in more deprived areas in Scotland [36]. UK studies of younger children (7-8 year-olds) using accelerometry suggest no clear socioeconomic gradients in the time spent in MVPA [37]; however, activity monitors do not currently capture data on activity domain.…”

Section: Comparisons With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 88%

Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: comparisons from two cross-sectional surveys

Scholes¹,

Mindell²

2020

Preprint

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Background: Inequalities in moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) may reflect differences in the propensity to do any, the amount of time spent active, or both. Using self-reported data from 4019 adolescents aged 11-15 years in England (Health Survey for England 2008, 2012, 2015) and 4312 aged 12-17 years in the US (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-16) we examined inequalities in MVPA.Methods: Hurdle models estimated inequalities by household income in three aspects: (1) doing any, (2) average minutes/day (MVPA: including those who did none), and (3) average minutes/day conditional on participation (MVPA-active). Inequalities after confounder adjustment (average marginal effects: AMEs) were quantified by computing the absolute difference in marginal means (low-income households as reference).Results: In England, adolescents in high-income households were more likely than those in low-income households to have done any formal sports/exercise in the last seven days (AMEs boys: 11%; 95% CI: 4, 17; girls: 13%; 6, 20); girls in high-income households spent more time being active than their low-income counterparts (AME formal MVPA: 6 minutes/day, 95% CI: 2, 9). Girls in low-income households spent more time in informal activities than girls in high-income households did (AME informal MVPA: 21 minutes/day; 95% CI: 10, 33), whilst boys in low-income versus high-income households spent longer in active travel (AME active travel MVPA: 21 minutes/week; 95% CI: 8, 34). In the US, in a typical week, recreational activity was greater among high-income versus low-income households (AMEs recreational boys: 15 minutes/day; 95% CI: 6, 24; girls: 19 minutes/day; 95% CI: 12, 27). In contrast, adolescents in low-income versus high-income households were more likely to travel actively (AMEs boys: 11%; 95% CI: 3, 19; girls: 10%; 95% CI: 3, 17) and spend more time engaged. Conclusions: Policy actions and interventions are required to increase levels of MVPA across all income groups in England and the US. Differences in formal sports/exercise (England) and recreational (US) activities suggest that additional efforts are required to move adolescents in low-income households from inactivity to activity, and to enable those already active to do more.

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Section: Comparisons With Previous Studiessupporting

confidence: 88%

Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: comparisons from two cross-sectional surveys

Scholes¹,

Mindell²

2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Prior studies have shown increased PA among lower SES populations, mostly due to PA associated with walking as participants are more likely to use active transportation for commuting. [48][49][50] Commuting does not explain our findings since there were no associations on working days, but our results emphasise the importance of focusing on non-working days when PA may take place in residential neighbourhoods. One prior study has assessed associations between neighbourhood characteristics and PA for different times of the day reporting stronger associations for times when adults were expected to be in their neighbourhood and awake (on weekdays before 9 am or after 5 pm and on weekends).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Cross-sectional associations of neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and greenness with accelerometer-measured leisure-time physical activity in a cohort of ageing workers

et al. 2020

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ObjectiveNeighbourhood characteristics may affect the level of physical activity (PA) of the residents. Few studies have examined the combined effects of distinctive neighbourhood characteristics on PA using objective data or differentiated between activity during working or non-working days. We examined the associations of socioeconomic disadvantage and greenness with accelerometer-measured leisure-time PA during working and non-working days.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingFinnish Retirement and Aging (FIREA) study.Participants708 workers (604 women, mean age 62.4 ranging from 58 to 64 years,) participating in the FIREA study who provided PA measurement data for at least 1 working and non-working day.Primary and secondary outcomesPA was measured with wrist-worn accelerometer on average of 4 working and 2 non-working days. Outcomes were total PA, light PA (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). These measurements were linked to data on neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and greenness within the home neighbourhood (750×750 m). Generalised linear models were adjusted for possible confounders.ResultsOn non-working days, higher neighbourhood disadvantage associated with lower levels of total PA (p value=0.07) and higher level of neighbourhood greenness associated with higher level of total PA (p value=0.04). Neighbourhood disadvantage and greenness had an interaction (p value=0.02); in areas of low disadvantage higher greenness did not associate with the level of total PA. However, in areas of high disadvantage, 2 SD higher greenness associated with 46 min/day (95% CI 8.4 to 85) higher total PA. Slightly stronger interaction was observed for LPA (p=0.03) than for the MVPA (p=0.09). During working days, there were no associations between neighbourhood characteristics and leisure-time total PA.ConclusionsOf the disadvantaged neighbourhoods, those characterised by high levels of greenness seem to associate with higher levels of leisure-time PA during non-working days. These findings suggest that efforts to add greenness to socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods might reduce inequalities in PA.

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“…That increased proximity to a new motorway was associated with increased likelihood of local active travel may suggest a health benefit, but may also reflect socioeconomic factors such as the aggregation of those without car access. A recent analysis of Scottish Household Survey 1 day travel diaries found likelihood of an active journey stage was higher for those living in the most deprived areas than for those in the least deprived [58]. The construction of a motorway, intended to facilitate motorised transport, in an area where nearly half the local population do not own a car (44% in our study participants), and therefore cannot make use of the infrastructure, may be contrary to the principles of social justice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local walking and cycling by residents living near urban motorways: cross-sectional analysis

et al. 2019

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BackgroundEveryday activities, such as walking or cycling, may be a feasible and practical way to integrate physical activity into everyday life. Walking and cycling for transport or recreation in the area local to a person’s home may have additional benefits. However, urban planning tends to prioritise car use over active modes. We explored the cross-sectional association between living near an urban motorway and local walking and cycling.MethodsIn 2013, residents living in an area (a) near a new urban motorway (M74), (b) near a longstanding urban motorway (M8), or (c) without a motorway, in Glasgow, Scotland, were invited to complete postal surveys assessing local walking and cycling journeys and socio-demographic characteristics. Using adjusted regression models, we assessed the association between motorway proximity and self-reported local walking and cycling, as well as the count of types of destination accessed. We stratified our analyses according to study area.ResultsOne thousand three hundred forty-three residents (57% female; mean age: 54 years; SD: 16 years) returned questionnaires. There was no overall association between living near an urban motorway and the likelihood of local walking or cycling, or the number of types of local destination accessed by foot or bicycle.In stratified analyses, for those living in the area around the new M74 motorway, increasing residential proximity to the motorway was associated with lower likelihood of local recreational walking and cycling (OR 0.63, 95% CI: 0.39 to 1.00) a pattern not found in the area with the longstanding M8 motorway. In the area near the M8 motorway residential proximity was statistically significantly (p = 0.014) associated with a 12% decrease in the number of types of destination accessed, a pattern not found in the M74 study area.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that associations between living near a motorway and local walking and cycling behaviour may vary by the characteristics of the motorway, and by whether the behaviour is for travel or recreation. The lack of associations seen in the study area with no motorway suggests a threshold effect whereby beyond a certain distance from a motorway, additional distance makes no difference.

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Population levels of, and inequalities in, active travel: A national, cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland

Cited by 30 publications

References 32 publications

Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: comparisons from two cross-sectional surveys

Income-based inequalities in self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents in England and the United States: comparisons from two cross-sectional surveys

Cross-sectional associations of neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and greenness with accelerometer-measured leisure-time physical activity in a cohort of ageing workers

Local walking and cycling by residents living near urban motorways: cross-sectional analysis

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