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

The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between perceived socioenvironmental neighborhood attributes and objectively assessed habitual physical activity among US adults as well as whether associations vary by sociodemographic characteristics.

We used data from the All of Us research program, a longitudinal cohort study of a diverse sample of Americans. Perceived neighborhood social cohesion, physical and social disorder, walkability, and sociodemographic characteristics were self-reported. Habitual physical activity was ascertained using Fitbit-derived step counts over ≥24 weeks. Generalized additive mixed-effects models were used to test the associations between perceived socioenvironmental neighborhood attributes and daily step counts.

Among participants (n = 6716), average daily step count was 7274.1 (SD = 3353.6). Social cohesion (B = 117.15, SE = 30.12, P < .001) and walkability (B = 72.74, SE = 31.43, P = .021) were positively associated with step count. The association of social cohesion with step count was moderated by age, being strongest among younger adults (B for interaction term = -5.43, SE = 2.00, P = .001), whereas the association between walkability and step count was moderated by income, being strongest for the lowest income group (B = -211.57, SE = 90.92, P = .020). Despite not finding main effects on step count for perceived physical disorder, age- and income-moderated effects were observed, with opposite-direction associations found for low (inverse) versus mid-upper income (direct) (B = 229.66, SE = 94.48, P = .015) and for younger (inverse) versus older (direct) adults (B for interaction term = 4.48, SE = 2.01, P = .030).

Perceived neighborhood social cohesion, walkability, and physical disorder are associated with habitual physical activity among US adults. Age and income moderated the associations between neighborhood attributes and physical activity.