Association between Urban Built Environments and Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity of Adolescents: A Cross-Lagged Study in Shanghai, China

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 22;19(15):8938. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19158938.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the built environment and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents aged 14−16 years. This study used a cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate the relationship between the urban built environment and adolescents’ MVPA in Shanghai, China. A total of 517 adolescents (275 boys and 242 girls) aged 14−17 years were recruited in Shanghai, China. Geographic information system technology was used to collect data on the built environment variables of the residential areas assessed. ActiGraphGT3X+ was used to monitor the physical activity of the adolescents at two time points (T1 and T2) spanning 2 years. The correlations between the T1 and T2 built environment variables were significant (r = 0.54−0.65, p < 0.05), and the T2 built environment was significantly better than the T1 built environment. The correlation between the T1 and T2 MVPA was significant (r = 0.28−0.56, p < 0.05), and the T2 weekend MVPA was higher than the T1 weekend MVPA. The T1 built environment could not predict the T2 weekday MVPA (β = 0.17, p > 0.05), but it positively predicted the T2 weekend MVPA (β = 0.24, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the urban built environment significantly affected weekend MVPA among adolescents.

Keywords: adolescents; built environment; cross-lagged; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior*
  • Built Environment*
  • China
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Geographic Information Systems
  • Humans
  • Male

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Fellowship of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2021M702543), the Planning Project of Shanghai Philosophy and Social Science (Grant No. 2020ETY001), the Research Project of Shanghai Education Sciences (Grant No. C2021024), and the Scientific Research Foundation of Young Teachers in Wuhan Sports University (Grant No. L2021666).