Association between access to neighbourhood greenness and physical activity in Nova Scotia youth

Abstract

Physical activity is an important factor of child growth and is expected to reduce the prevalence of obesity. However, despite these benefits many youth in Nova Scotia do not meet the recommended physical activity guidelines defined by the Canadian Government. Thus, there is a high demand for research that investigates the causes behind variations in levels of physical activity. One possible explanation of these variations is accessibility to neighbourhood greenness. Exposure to green environments has shown to have positive health benefits. However, much is still unknown about the influence neighbourhood greenness has on physical activity in youth. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between access to neighbourhood greenness and physical activity levels among a sample of youth in Nova Scotia. Physical activity data was obtained from the study Keeping Pace, conducted in 2009-2010, where accelerometers were used to measure physical activity levels of 1855 students in grades 3, 7 and 11 across Nova Scotia. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was used to quantify neighbourhood greenness and analysis was computed in a geographic information system. Logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between neighbourhood greenness and physical activity in youth. A positive correlation between neighbourhood greenness and achieving physical activity guidelines was seen at 1.5 km distance from participants home (P-value = 0.049, OR = 1.0004). Living in a rural or urban area did not have a significant impact on the relationship between physical activity and neighbourhood greenness. Neighborhood greenness may be an essential quality of active neighborhoods. Future research should explore the specific dimensions within the neighbourhood that contribute to greater physical activity and health among youth.

Key words: Physical Activity, Neighbourhood Greenness, Cross Sectional, Geographic Information System (GIS)