The built environment as a determinant of physical activity:longitudinal associations between neighborhood characteristics, urban planning processes, and physical activity

• Main Author: Kärmeniemi, M. (Mikko)
• Other Authors: Korpelainen, R. (Raija), Lankila, T. (Tiina), Koivumaa-Honkanen, H. (Heli)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Oulun yliopisto 2021
• Subjects: built environment; causality; cycling; longitudinal research; physical activity; urban planning; walking; fyysinen aktiivisuus; kaupunkisuunnittelu; kausaliteetti; kävely; pitkittäistutkimus; pyöräily; rakennettu ympäristö; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526229546

Abstract The health benefits of physical activity (PA) are indisputable, but physical inactivity remains a global public health concern. There is a need to design cities that support active transportation because the built environment (BE) is a possible major contributor to physical inactivity. The present study aimed to examine the BE as a determinant of PA with a specific focus on longitudinal associations, residential relocation, and producing policy-relevant knowledge of land use and transportation policies, and urban form and transportation modal share development. First, previous longitudinal studies were reviewed using the narrative synthesis analysis method. Second, population-based prospective Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 data were used to assess the longitudinal associations between residential relocation and changes in regular walking and cycling behavior. Finally, a longitudinal mixed methods approach focused on the interconnection between qualitative document analysis of local land use and transportation policies and quantitative analysis of urban form development and its association with transportation modal share development. Increases in urban form density, mixed land use, and access networks (DMA) were associated with increased walking and cycling and decreased car use. Residential relocation trajectories were mostly stable. Relocation focused more often to less dense and diverse neighborhoods, but relocating to the most urban neighborhoods increased the odds of starting both regular cycling and walking, as compared to the opposite relocation trajectory. In the city of Oulu, urban form did not develop entirely according to related policies, and goals to increase active transportation modal share were not achieved, possibly due to an inadequate functional mix outside the city center, increased urban sprawl, and building more capacity for cars. Changing how community structures are developed seems a promising strategy for increasing population PA by inducing demand for active modes of ...