@article{ref1,
title="Gender differences in physical activity associated with urban neighborhood parks:  findings from the National Study of Neighborhood Parks",
journal="Women's health issues",
year="2020",
author="Cohen, Deborah A. and Williamson, Stephanie and Han, Bing",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Urban neighborhood parks are designed to provide easy access to  recreation and physical activity. We analyzed data from the first National Study of  Neighborhood Parks, which assessed the characteristics and use of a representative  sample of U.S. urban neighborhood parks. This article compares factors associated  with active commuting (e.g., walking) to parks among men and women and park  characteristics associated with observed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity  (MVPA) within neighborhood parks. <br><br>METHODS: We used systematic direct observation to  quantify parks visitors of all ages in 162 U.S. neighborhood parks in 25 cities in  2016 and surveyed a sample of adult visitors (877 women and 793 men). We used  descriptive statistics to identify park facilities, amenities, and park management  practices associated with park use. We also conducted multivariate regressions to  identify factors most closely associated with observed park-based MVPA among all age  groups and with self-reported levels of active commuting to parks among adults. <br><br>RESULTS: Reasons to visit parks varied by gender with women more likely than men to  bring children (59% vs 42% for males; p < .001), and men more likely than women to  go to parks to relax (38% vs 29%; p = .01). Bringing children to parks was  associated with more motorized transport among women, but not among men. Active  commuting to parks was associated with living closer to parks (β = -0.92;  p < .0001), a greater frequency of park use (β = 0.99; p < .0001), and the park  having a working drinking fountain (β = 0.62; p = .01), with no significant  differences between men and women. Men and boys used park facilities very  differently than women and girls. Men and boys engaged in the most MVPA in soccer  fields, gyms, and skate parks, whereas for women and girls the top three sites were  pools, playgrounds, and walking paths. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Significant gender differences  in why men and women visit parks and how parks are used likely reflect cultural  determinants of gender roles. Our findings suggest that park management practices  should be adjusted to mitigate the lower use of parks and lower levels of park-based  MVPA among women and girls compared with men and boys.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1049-3867",
doi="10.1016/j.whi.2020.11.007",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2020.11.007"
}