Perceived Neighborhood Environment and Objectively Assessed, Habitual Physical Activity Among US Adults: An All of Us...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Understanding neighborhood attributes' impact on physical activity is crucial for public health interventions.
• Socioenvironmental factors may influence health behaviors, but associations need objective assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between perceived neighborhood attributes and objectively measured physical activity in US adults.
• To investigate how sociodemographic factors moderate these associations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the All of Us research program, a diverse longitudinal cohort.
• Assessed perceived neighborhood attributes (social cohesion, disorder, walkability) and habitual physical activity (Fitbit step counts).
• Employed generalized additive mixed-effects models to analyze associations and moderation effects.

Main Results:

• Positive associations found between social cohesion and walkability with daily step counts.
• Age moderated the social cohesion-activity link (stronger in younger adults).
• Income moderated the walkability-activity link (stronger in lower-income groups).
• Physical disorder showed complex, moderated associations with activity by age and income.

Conclusions:

• Perceived neighborhood social cohesion, walkability, and physical disorder are significantly associated with physical activity levels in US adults.
• Age and income are key moderators influencing the relationship between neighborhood environments and physical activity.