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Cited by 359Urban Transport and AccessibilityObesity, Physical Activity, DietPhysical Activity and Health

Parents' perceptions of neighborhood safety and children's physical activity

Weir, Lori A., Etelson, Debra, Brand, Donald A.·2006·Preventive Medicine
DOI 10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.03.024
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Abstract

Objective The obesity epidemic disproportionately affects minority and poor children. Negative perceptions of neighborhood safety in poor communities may affect overweight by inhibiting children's physical activity. This study investigates the degree to which parents in a poor inner city vs. a middle-class suburban community limit their children's outdoor activity because of neighborhood safety concerns.Method Parents of children aged 5-10 years from an inner city family practice in a poor community and from a suburban pediatric practice in a middle-class community completed a 20-item questionnaire. Parents estimated the amount of their child's activity in various situations and indicated their level of anxiety concerning gangs, child aggression, crime, traffic, and personal safety in their neighborhood.Results Inner city children (n = 204) engaged in less physical activity than suburban children (N = 103) (P < 0.001). Inner city parents expressed much greater anxiety about neighborhood safety than suburban parents (P < 0.0001). In the inner city population, children's physical activity levels were negatively correlated with parental anxiety about neighborhood safety (r = -0.18, P < 0.05).Conclusions Inner city parents have high levels of anxiety about neighborhood safety. While these concerns may not entirely explain the discrepancy in activity levels between inner city and suburban children, a safe environment is crucial to increasing opportunities for physical activity.

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  • There may be enormous disparities in access to online/active opportunities based on household financial considerations, digital technology access, house and yard size, and neighborhood safety and traffic volume.

    “However, there may be enormous disparities in access to these opportunities based on household financial considerations, digital technology access, house and yard size, and neighborhood safety and traffic volume [7–11].”

    From Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and sedentary behavior in children living in the U.S. (2020) · cites this paper as [10]

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Authors
Weir, L. A., Etelson, D., & Brand, D. A.
Affiliations
New York Medical College (US)
Corresponding author
Weir, Lori A.
ORCID
Brand, Donald A.
Venue
Preventive Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2006-09
Volume
43
Issue
3
Pages
212-217
ISSN
0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ypmed.2006.03.024
OpenAlex
W2045790515
Cited by
359
References
18
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 21
FWCI
57.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Public Health Service (2D54 HP 00022)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
Keywords
neighborhood safety, children's physical activity, parental attitudes, inner-city neighborhoods, suburbs, childhood obesity, parental anxiety, socioeconomic status
MeSH terms
Child, Child, Preschool, Crime, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, New York, Parents, Poverty, Surveys and Questionnaires, Residence Characteristics, Safety, Suburban Population, Urban Population, Exercise

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