Environmental and psychosocial correlates of accelerometer-assessed and self-reported physical activity in Belgian adults. 2011

Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
Fund for Scientific Research Flanders, Ghent, Belgium. Delfien.VanDyck@UGent.be

BACKGROUND Despite the well-known benefits of physical activity (PA) on overall health, the majority of the adult population does not engage in sufficient PA. To develop effective interventions to increase PA, it is necessary to understand the most important PA correlates and to investigate whether correlates are similar in different population subgroups. OBJECTIVE This study examined associations between physical environmental perceptions and self-reported and objectively assessed PA in Belgian adults. Moreover, associations between psychosocial factors and PA, and the moderating effects of sociodemographic factors were investigated. METHODS A sample of 1,200 Belgian adults (20-65 years; 47.9% males) completed a survey measuring sociodemographic variables and psychosocial correlates, the Neighborhood Environmental Walkability Scale and the long-version International Physical Activity Questionnaire. They wore an accelerometer for 7 days. RESULTS Perceiving neighborhoods to be high walkable (high residential density, high land use mix access, and high land use mix diversity) and recreation facilities to be convenient, and the availability of home PA equipment were the most consistent physical environmental correlates of PA. The strongest psychosocial correlates were social support from friends and family and self-efficacy. The psychosocial associations were most consistent for self-reported leisure-time PA and less clear for self-reported active transportation and accelerometer-assessed PA. Few significant sociodemographic moderators were found. CONCLUSIONS Both physical environmental and psychosocial factors were associated with PA in adults, with psychosocial factors being important especially for leisure-time PA. Correlates of PA were similar regardless of gender, age, or socio-economic status, so interventions to change these factors could have population-wide effects.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009043 Motor Activity Body movements of a human or an animal as a behavioral phenomenon. Activities, Motor,Activity, Motor,Motor Activities
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D004777 Environment The external elements and conditions which surround, influence, and affect the life and development of an organism or population. Environmental Impact,Environmental Impacts,Impact, Environmental,Impacts, Environmental,Environments
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D001530 Belgium A country in Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands. The capital is Brussels.
D012931 Social Environment The aggregate of social and cultural institutions, forms, patterns, and processes that influence the life of an individual or community. Social Context,Environment, Social,Social Ecology,Context, Social,Contexts, Social,Ecologies, Social,Ecology, Social,Environments, Social,Social Contexts,Social Ecologies,Social Environments

Related Publications

Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
March 2011, Health & social care in the community,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
October 2005, Public health nutrition,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
January 2015, PloS one,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
November 2017, The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
August 2017, Perceptual and motor skills,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
January 2003, American journal of health promotion : AJHP,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
April 2024, Perceptual and motor skills,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
December 2018, Health reports,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
January 2018, Epidemiology and health,
Delfien Van Dyck, and Greet Cardon, and Benedicte Deforche, and Billie Giles-Corti, and James F Sallis, and Neville Owen, and Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
January 2021, Health & place,
Copied contents to your clipboard!