The role of neighborhood social cohesion in the association between seeing people walk and leisure-time walking among Latino adults.

Few studies have investigated the association between seeing people walk and leisure-time walking, and the role of neighborhood social cohesion among Latinos/Latinx. We examined the association between frequency of seeing people walk within sight of home and leisure-time walking, and whether neighborhood social cohesion explained this association. We utilized cross-sectional data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey from Latinos aged 18+ years (n=4,669). A structural equation model was used to estimate the association between seeing people walk and leisure-time walking, and to test the extent to which neighborhood social cohesion accounted for the association. Findings indicate that there is a strong association between seeing people walk and leisure-time walking, and neighborhood social cohesion partially explains this association among Latinos/Latinx. Neighborhood social cohesion may strengthen efforts focused on neighborhood-level behavioral norms that promote walking.

Neighborhood Walkability and Overweight/Obese Weight Status Among Latino Adults.

PURPOSE: To examine whether aerobic physical activity mediates the association between neighborhood walkability and overweight/obesity weight status among Latino adults and whether the relative contribution of this pathway linking neighborhood walkability and aerobic activity varies by level of neighborhood social cohesion. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2015. SAMPLE: NHIS adult Latino participants ≥18 years of age (n = 4303). MEASURES: Neighborhood walkability, neighborhood social cohesion, body mass index, and aerobic physical activity. ANALYSIS: To determine whether physical activity mediates the relationship of walkability with overweight/obese weight status, a simple mediation analysis was conducted. Additionally, a moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test whether neighborhood social cohesion had a moderating effect on this relationship. RESULTS: On average, the sample was 41 years old, 51% were male, 34% had less than a high school education, and 57% were foreign-born. Neighborhood walkability was statistically significantly related to overweight/obese weight status (standardized effect= -0.05, standard error [SE] = 0.02, P = .01). The interaction between walkability and neighborhood social cohesion on physical activity was not significant (standardized effect = 0.06, SE = 0.03, P = .09). Thus, the indirect effect of walkability on overweight/obesity weight status through physical activity was not shown to be modified by neighborhood social cohesion. CONCLUSION: Other neighborhood environment factors may play a role in the contribution of neighborhood walkability to overweight/obese weight status among Latinos.