A longitudinal residential relocation study of changes in street layout and physical activity

Gavin R. McCormack, Mohammad Javad Koohsari, Jennifer E. Vena, Koichiro Oka, Tomoki Nakaya, Jonathan Chapman, Ryan Martinson, Graham Matsalla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Few longitudinal residential relocation studies have explored associations between urban form and physical activity, and none has used the Space Syntax theory. Using a Canadian longitudinal dataset (n = 5944), we estimated: (1) differences in physical activity between non-movers, and those relocating to neighbourhoods with less or more integrated street layouts, and; (2) associations between changes in street layout integration exposure and differences in physical activity. Adjusting for covariates, we found relative to non-movers, those who moved to more integrated neighbourhoods undertook significantly (p <.05) more leisure walking (27.3 min/week), moderate-intensity (45.7 min/week), and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (54.4 min/week). Among movers, a one-unit increase in the relative change in street integration exposure ([Street integration at follow-up—street integration at baseline]/street integration at baseline) was associated with a 7.5 min/week increase in leisure walking. Our findings suggest that urban design policies that improve neighbourhood street integration might encourage more physical activity in adults.

Original languageEnglish
Article number7691
JournalScientific Reports
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Dec

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