Citation

Timperio A, Salmon J, Ball K, Te Velde SJ, Brug J, Crawford D. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2012; 15(2): 122-128.

Affiliation

Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2011.07.010

PMID

21955388

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Neighborhoods that discourage physical activity may encourage indoor activities such as television viewing; however few studies have examined associations between neighborhood characteristics and sedentary activities. This study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between perceived and objective measures of the physical and social neighborhood environment and TV viewing among children and adolescents. Design. Cross-sectional and longitudinal. Method. Parents of 190 children and 169 adolescents completed questionnaire items regarding facilities for physical activity, neighborhood safety (general and traffic), social trust/cohesion, social networks and their child's TV viewing in 2006. Adolescents self-reported their TV viewing. Objective measures of reported crime and neighborhood destinations, road connectivity and traffic exposure were also collected. Questions about TV viewing were repeated in 2008 (longitudinal sample: 157 children; 105 adolescents). Results. In children, cul-de-sac density and reported crime were positively and parental agreement that their neighborhood has good sporting facilities was negatively associated with TV viewing in cross-sectional analyses. There were no longitudinal associations among children. In adolescents, number of sports options and parental agreement that there is so much traffic that it is difficult/unpleasant for their child to walk were negatively associated with TV viewing 2 years later. Conclusions. Crime and a lack of quality sporting facilities or options may contribute to greater TV viewing among youth.

Language: en