| Keywords |
Environmental correlates of physical activity ; Socio-demographic factor ; Young adult ; Walking for exercise |
| Abstract |
The purpose of the current analysis was to examine associations of socio-demographic and environmental factors with walking for exercise in young adults. The sample consisted of 369 females and 315 males, aged 24-30 years (84% white). Telephone or mail survey was used to assess min/wk of walking for exercise (WFE) over the past year and socio-demographic (gender, race, education, income, marital status, smoking and binge drinking) and environmental correlates (home exercise equipments, recreational facilities, neighborhood characteristics). A total of 293 (80%) of females and 148 (48%) of males reported WFE during the past year, and females reported a significantly higher median value of min/wk WFE (59.5 vs. 0.0, p<0.001) than males. Education level and binge drinking habit were significantly associated with participation in walking for exercise. Among individual environmental variables, running shoes, walking trails, enjoyable scenery in neighborhood, frequent observation of others walking/exercising and high crime were significantly associated with participation in walking for exercise. After adjusting for gender, the higher number of home exercise equipments, recreational facilities, neighborhood features and total environmental correlates were significantly associated with higher chance of participation in walking for exercise. In conclusion, developing quality and quantity of environmental variables play significant roles in increasing participation in walking for exercise for health promotion. Further investigation is necessary to identify environmental variables that may promote other leisure time physical activity including vigorous physical activity and strength exercise. |