Differences in associations between active transportation and built environmental exposures when expressed using different components of individual activity spaces

Torbjorn van Heeswijck; Catherine Paquet; Yan Kestens; Benoit Thierry; Catherine Morency; Mark Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.03.003

Differences in associations between active transportation and built environmental exposures when expressed using different components of individual activity spaces

Health Place. 2015 May:33:195-202. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Apr 6.

Authors

Torbjorn van Heeswijck¹, Catherine Paquet², Yan Kestens³, Benoit Thierry⁴, Catherine Morency⁵, Mark Daniel⁶

Affiliations

¹ Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5001, SA, Australia. Electronic address: torbjorn.van_heeswijck@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
² Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5001, SA, Australia; Research Center of the Douglas Mental Health Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada H4H 1R2. Electronic address: catherine.paquet@unisa.edu.au.
³ CRCHUM, Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal Hospital University Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada H2L 1V1. Electronic address: yan.kestens@umontreal.ca.
⁴ CRCHUM, Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal Hospital University Research Center (CRCHUM), Montreal, QC, Canada H2L 1V1. Electronic address: benoit.thierry@crchum.qc.ca.
⁵ Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, C.P. 6079, succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C3A7. Electronic address: cmorency@polymtl.ca.
⁶ Spatial Epidemiology and Evaluation Research Group, School of Population Health, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5001, SA, Australia; Department of Medicine, St.Vincent's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy 3065, VIC, Australia.. Electronic address: mark.daniel@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 25862996
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.03.003

Abstract

This study assessed relationships between built environmental exposures measured within components of individual activity spaces (i.e., travel origins, destinations and paths in-between), and use of active transportation in a metropolitan setting. Individuals (n=37,165) were categorised as using active or sedentary transportation based on travel survey data. Generalised Estimating Equations analysis was used to test relationships with active transportation. Strength and significance of relationships between exposures and active transportation varied for different components of the activity space. Associations were strongest when including travel paths in expression of the built environment. Land use mix and greenness were negatively related to active transportation.

Keywords: Activity space; Bicycling; Built environment; Geographic information systems; Walking.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bicycling
Environment Design / statistics & numerical data*
Exercise
Female
Geographic Information Systems
Health Behavior
Humans
Male
Quebec
Residence Characteristics / statistics & numerical data*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transportation / statistics & numerical data*
Walking