Social Science and Medicine
Social Science and Medicine
5 years ago

The observed and perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity among urban-dwelling adults: The moderating role of depressive symptoms

Physical environmental features of neighborhoods are associated with physical activity, but the influence of mental health factors, such as depression, on these associations is poorly understood. Objective We examined whether the perceived neighborhood environment mediated associations between the observed neighborhood environment and physical activity, and whether these associations were moderated by depressive symptoms. Methods Data consisted of systematic social observations of 343 neighborhoods and resident surveys. Participants’ (N = 2969) mean age was 41.9 ± 16.2 years, 60.2% were female, and 67.9% were non-White. We conducted multiple linear regression and tests for mediation and moderated mediation. Results Observed recreation facilities, commercial destinations, physical disorder, and physical deterioration were indirectly associated with walking via perceived neighborhood environment variables. Observed recreation facilities was indirectly and positively associated with leisure-time physical activity via perceived park access, and indirectly and inversely associated with walking and leisure-time physical activity via perceived traffic danger, but only among participants with low depressive symptom scores. Observed recreation facilities was indirectly and inversely associated, and observed physical disorder and physical deterioration were indirectly and positively associated with walking via perceived disorder, but only among participants with high depressive symptom scores. Conclusion Depressive symptoms affected the strength and direction of associations between the observed neighborhood environment and physical activity via residents’ perceptions.

Publisher URL: www.sciencedirect.com/science

DOI: S0277953617304586

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