Perceptions of Park Quality Can Impact Physical Activity and Health
Article Summary

Perceptions of Park Quality Can Impact Physical Activity and Health

February 2013
Author:
Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, University of Missouri
Topic:
Parks & Recreation, Parks
Population Served:
Adults, Lower-income Families
Location by State:
Missouri
DOWNLOAD (0.02 MB)
Summary:

The Challenge: Little is known about how people's perceptions of park quality are related to their physical activity and health.

Make an impact: Improving park quality could be an effective way to help children and families be more physically active.

What the findings are about: This study surveyed people who lived near parks and examined whether their perceptions of neighborhood park quality were associated with their overall moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, physical activity occurring in parks, and body mass index.

Key Findings and Recommendations:
  • Residents' perceptions of neighborhood park quality were related to physical activity and health outcomes.
  • Those who had higher ratings tended to participate in higher levels of overall moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, were more active in parks during the week, and had a lower body mass index.
  • Researchers, city planners, and others concerned with the relationship between parks and health should consider the effects of residents' perceptions of parks, in addition to objective park characteristics.

 

Read the full article: Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index

Suggested Citations:
Bai, H., et al. (2013). Perceptions of Neighborhood Park Quality: Associations with Physical Activity and Body Mass Index. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 45(1Suppl): S39-S48.
 

STAY UP TO DATE

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.

RECENTLY ADDED TOOLS & RESOURCES
Open Streets: Trends and Opportunities
Research Briefs & Syntheses
Contributing to helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Truly shifting...
Research Papers
A Northern European perspective on creating more activity friendly cities
Research Papers

more tools & resources
Annual Conference 2021

We are pleased to announce an exciting new alliance between Active Living Research and GP RED to co-host and coordinate...

more info

MOVE! A BLOG ABOUT ACTIVE LIVING
New Name – Same Great Conference!

The "Active Living Conference" aims to break down research and practice silos and...

August 14, 2018
Event

more MOVE!