Contextualizing physical activity in rural adults: Do relationships between income inequality, neighborhood environments, and physical activity exist?
Health Serv Res
; 58 Suppl 2: 238-247, 2023 08.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37208903
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To examine if income inequality, social cohesion, and neighborhood walkability are associated with physical activity among rural adults. DATA SOURCE Cross-sectional data came from a telephone survey (August 2020-March 2021) that examined food access, physical activity, and neighborhood environments across rural counties in a southeastern state. STUDYDESIGN:
Multinomial logistic regression models assessed the likelihood of being active versus inactive and insufficiently active versus inactive in this rural population. Coefficients are presented as relative risk ratios (RRRs). Statistical significance was determined using 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All analyses were performed in STATA 16.1. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTIONMETHODS:
Trained university students administered the survey. Students verbally obtained consent, read survey items, and recorded responses into Qualtrics software. Upon survey completion, respondents were mailed a $10 incentive card and printed informed consent form. Eligible participants were ≥18 years old and current residents of included counties. PRINCIPALFINDINGS:
Respondents in neighborhoods with relatively high social cohesion versus low social cohesion were more likely to be active than inactive (RRR = 2.50, 95% CI 1.27-4.90, p < 0.01), after accounting for all other variables in the model. Income inequality and neighborhood walkability were not associated with different levels of physical activity in the rural sample.CONCLUSIONS:
Study findings contribute to limited knowledge on the relationship between neighborhood environmental contexts and physical activity among rural populations. The health effects of neighborhood social cohesion warrant more attention in health equity research and consideration when developing multilevel interventions to improve the health of rural populations.Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Rural Population
/
Walking
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Health Serv Res
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States