Neighborhood Influences on Diet and Physical Activity

dc.contributor.authorKirby, Elizabeth Granvilleen
dc.contributor.committeechairHosig, Kathryn W.en
dc.contributor.committeememberNickols-Richardson, Sharon M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAnderson, Eileen S.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHerbert, William G.en
dc.contributor.departmentHuman Nutrition, Foods, and Exerciseen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:37:31Zen
dc.date.adate2007-07-13en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:37:31Zen
dc.date.issued2007-05-07en
dc.date.rdate2007-07-13en
dc.date.sdate2007-05-18en
dc.description.abstractObjective: To examine associations between neighborhood characteristics and diet and physical activity in those of differing socio-economic status. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among US adults living in a small Southeast community, including individuals at lower income levels. Physical activity was self-reported and objectively measured with a pedometer. Diet, self-efficacy, and perception of neighborhood friendliness were self-reported. Main outcome measures: Minutes of physical activity, self-efficacy towards physical activity, where residents exercised, and perception of neighborhood friendliness towards physical activity. Statistical Analysis Performed: Associations between where participants exercise and their minutes of daily exercise were analyzed by independent t-tests (p < 0.05). Income level and minutes of daily activity were analyzed with t-tests and later with UNIANOVA, controlling for age. Income and where participants exercise was analyzed using Chi square. Distance to the park and minutes of daily activity was analyzed with Pearson's correlation (two-sided, p < 0.05). Results: Income was not associated with daily minutes of physical activity or where a person chose to be active. Age was the biggest predictor of physical activity. Living on a street with a hill was positively correlated with self-efficacy for physical activity but negatively correlated with perception of neighborhood friendliness towards physical activity. Conclusion: Both high and low SES residents, within the same neighborhood, having access to the same recreational opportunities, did not differ in levels of physical activity. Both income groups met the current recommendations for physical activity suggesting access to parks with walking/biking trails, as well as other facilities, increases actual energy expenditure, independent of SES. Applications: Health officials and urban planners could work together in creating more recreational opportunities, especially in low SES neighborhoods, to increase national levels of physical activity.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-05182007-125721en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05182007-125721/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/32958en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartThesisFinal_bkirby_061407.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectneighborhood influencesen
dc.subjectincomeen
dc.subjectphysical activityen
dc.titleNeighborhood Influences on Diet and Physical Activityen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineHuman Nutrition, Foods, and Exerciseen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ThesisFinal_bkirby_061407.pdf
Size:
2.02 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format

Collections