Resources for physical activity participation: Does availability and accessibility differ by neighborhood socioeconomic status?
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the availability and accessibility of physical activity resources differed by neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) in a small U.S. city (population = 133,046). U.S. census tracts (N =32) were used to represent neighborhoods and categorized into high, medium, or low SES on the basis of the percentage of unemployed individuals, per capita income, and percentage of the population below the poverty threshold. We developed a geographic information system to generate a comprehensive list of physical activity resources available within each census tract in the city. We identified 112 parks, 33 sport facilities, 15 fitness clubs, 11 community centers, and 5 walking/biking trails. The total number of physical activity resources varied by neighborhood SES (p <.05); low-SES (M =4.5-/+2.3) and medium-SES (M =4.9-/+2.6) neighborhoods had significantly fewer resources than high-SES (M =8.4-/+3.5) neighborhoods. Low-, medium-, and high-SES neighborhoods did not differ on the number of pay-for-use facilities; however, low-SES (M =3.1-/+1.5) and medium-SES (M =3.8-/+1.6) neighborhoods had significantly fewer free-for-use resources than high- (M =6.1-/+2.4) SES neighborhoods (p <.01). Data suggest that individuals from lower SES neighborhoods may have limited ability to control their physical activity in the face of inaccessible environments. Community research and promotion efforts should include assessment and targeting of available and accessible physical activity resources.
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Neighborhoods where lower socioeconomic status individuals often live may not support exercise because of high traffic, poor lighting, waste sites, infrastructure deterioration, high crime rates, and lack of physical activity facilities.
“Neighborhoods in which lower socioeconomic status individuals often live may not be conducive to exercise due to high traffic, poor lighting, waste sites, infrastructure deterioration, high crime rates,151,153 and lack of availability of facilities that enable and promote PA.154,155”
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- Authors
- Estabrooks, P. A., Lee, R. E., & Gyurcsik, N. C.
- Affiliations
- Kansas State University (US)
- University of Kansas (US)
- Corresponding author
- Estabrooks, Paul A.
- Venue
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2003-04
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 100-104
- ISSN
- 0742-5554 (ISSN-L)
- 0883-6612
- 1532-4796
- OpenAlex
- W2102503308
- Cited by
- 719
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 38
- FWCI
- 47.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annals of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Urban Green Space and Health
- Keywords
- physical activity resources, neighborhood socioeconomic status, resource availability, access to resources, parks, sports facilities, fitness centers, community centers, built environment, health disparities
- MeSH terms
- Health Resources, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Motor Activity, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Exercise
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