Urban–Rural Differences in Physical Activity in Belgian Adults and the Importance of Psychosocial Factors

Abstract

Recent research in urban planning and public health has drawn attention to the associations between urban form and physical activity in adults. Because little is known on the urban-rural differences in physical activity, the main aims of the present study were to examine differences in physical activity between urban and rural adults and to investigate the moderating effects of the physical environment on the relationship between psychosocial factors and physical activity. In Flanders, Belgium, five rural and five urban neighborhoods were selected. A sample of 350 adults (20-65 years of age; 35 adults per neighborhood) participated in the study. Participants wore a pedometer for 7 days, and self-reported physical activity and psychosocial data were also collected. Results showed that urban adults took more steps/day and reported more walking and cycling for transport in the neighborhood, more recreational walking in the neighborhood, and more walking for transportation outside the neighborhood than rural adults. Rural adults reported more recreational cycling in the neighborhoods. The physical environment was a significant moderator of the associations between several psychosocial factors (modeling from family, self-efficacy, and perceived barriers) and physical activity. In rural participants, adults with psychosocial scores above average were more physically active, whereas there were no differences in physical activity according to psychosocial factors in urban participants. These results are promising and plead for the development of multidimensional interventions, targeting specific population subgroups. In rural environments, where changing the environment would be a very challenging task, interventions focusing on modifiable psychosocial constructs could possibly be effective.

Physical activity of male and female adolescents living in a town and a city in the context of public health recommendations

“…One of the crucial factors differentiating participation of children and adolescents in physical activities is their place of residence [20,13]. This was also reflected in the results of this study, according to which the percentage of both male and female adolescents who fulfilled the criteria of minimal and optimal physical efforts recommended for health was much larger in CzechowiceDziedzice than Katowice.…”

Level of physical activity among adult population in Paraguay.Prevalence and associates factors

“…Esto puede deberse a que el Paraguay todavía es el país con mayor población rural de la región, y la condición rural es un determinante asociado con mayores niveles de AF cuando es estudiado en la región (12)(13)(14). En este sentido es importante hacer notar que en países con una dinámica demográfica diferente, en donde la migración del campo a la ciudad es más tardía, los entornos rurales son determinantes de menor cantidad de pasos diarios, de poco desplazamiento activo, y además es un condicionante de más obesidad que en el entorno urbano (15)(16)(17). La diferencia de los niveles de AF según sexo y grupos de edad está bien definida en diferentes estudios.…”

Interactions between psychological and environmental characteristics and their impacts on walking

“…The conclusions from the 11 studies are inconsistent. Some (Cerin, Vandelanotte et al 2008, Van Dyck, Deforche et al 2009, Joh, Nguyen et al 2011, Van Dyck, Cardon et al 2011, Ding, Sallis et al 2012, Beenackers, Kamphuis et al 2013) support competitive mechanism while others (Rhodes, Brown et al 2006, Deforche, Van Dyck et al 2010, Carlson, Sallis et al 2012, Friederichs, Kremers et al 2013) support synergetic mechanism. Some studies found both mechanisms may exist; that is, the mechanism depends on the combination of the specific psychological and environmental characteristics.…”

“…(1) Populations. The examined populations ranged from adults in Australia (Cerin, Vandelanotte et al 2008), Belgium (Van Dyck, Deforche et al 2009, Van Dyck, Cardon et al 2011), Canada (Rhodes, Brown et al 2006), the Netherland (Beenackers, Kamphuis et al 2013, Friederichs, Kremers et al 2013, Beenackers, Kamphuis et al 2014), and the US (Joh, Nguyen et al 2011, Ding, Sallis et al 2012), Belgium youths (Deforche, Van Dyck et al 2010), and older adults in the US (Carlson, Sallis et al 2012). As we know, some European countries have much higher rates of walking and the social norm towards walking and private vehicles also differ considerably (Pucher, Buehler et al 2010, Buehler and Pucher 2012).…”

“…(2) Outcomes. Most studies relied on self-reported walking but objective measures such as pedometer and accelerometer were also used (Van Dyck, Deforche et al 2009, Van Dyck, Cardon et al 2011, Carlson, Sallis et al 2012, Ding, Sallis et al 2012). Some used self-reported total minutes of walking while others used the self-reported count of walking trips (Joh, Nguyen et al 2011).…”