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Interactive Effects of Built Environment and Psychosocial Attributes on Physical Activity: A Test of Ecological Models

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

The principle of cross-level interactions of influence on behavior in ecological models is seldom studied.

Purpose

To examine built environment × psychosocial interactive effects on physical activity.

Methods

Multi-level mixed regression analyses used data from the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study conducted in neighborhoods in two US regions (n = 2,199 adults). Outcomes were (1) objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, (2) reported transport walking, and (3) leisure-walking. Conceptually matched built environment variables were analyzed for domain-specific outcomes.

Results

With leisure walking as the outcome, built environment × psychosocial interactions were significant in 7 of 20 models tested. Directions of interactions were consistent, indicating a stronger built environment–leisure walking association in adults with less favorable psychosocial status. Little evidence supported such interactions with objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or transport walking as outcomes.

Conclusion

The results imply that the built environment may exert stronger influence on adults who are not psychologically predisposed to be active.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by grant HL67350 from the National, Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Ding Ding was supported by Active Living Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Conflict of Interest Statement

There is no conflict of interest to report.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, 3900 Fifth Ave. Suite 310, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA

    Ding Ding Ph.D., MPH, James F. Sallis Ph.D., Terry L. Conway Ph.D. & Kelli L. Cain MA

  2. Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92103, USA

    Ding Ding Ph.D., MPH & Donald J. Slymen Ph.D.

  3. Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Brian E. Saelens Ph.D.

  4. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Lawrence D. Frank Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Ding Ding Ph.D., MPH
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  2. James F. Sallis Ph.D.
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  3. Terry L. Conway Ph.D.
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  4. Brian E. Saelens Ph.D.
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  6. Kelli L. Cain MA
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  7. Donald J. Slymen Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Ding Ding Ph.D., MPH.

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Ding, D., Sallis, J.F., Conway, T.L. et al. Interactive Effects of Built Environment and Psychosocial Attributes on Physical Activity: A Test of Ecological Models. ann. behav. med. 44, 365–374 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9394-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-012-9394-1

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