Article Commentary: Where is the Theoretical Basis for Understanding and Measuring the Environment for Physical Activity?
Open accessAbstract
Researchers are beginning to explore environmental correlates to further the field of physical activity research. Before interventions and experimental investigations can be undertaken, it is necessary to identify specific environmental features that are consistent correlates of physical activity. There has been a plethora of research measuring such cross-sectional associations since this field came to the fore in 2003. This paper posits that it is time for researchers to evaluate the state of knowledge, and suggests that future developments in this field focus on the theoretical bases for (i) measurement of the environment and (ii) understanding the links between perceptions of the environment and behaviour through psychological theories of cognition. Key theories considered include social ecology and the theory of planned behaviour. It is suggested that with a continued absence of a common conceptual framework, vocabulary and measurement tools the majority of studies may remain at a correlates stage. In highlighting issues with current methodologies, this commentary encourages more grounded theoretical approaches to the study of the environment and physical activity.
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For people with T2DM, physical environment features like home exercise equipment, nearby activity facilities, and neighborhood walkability explain as much as 18% of the variation in physical activity amount.
“Physical environmental factors, such as home exercise equipment, proximity of a PA facility, and walkability of the neighborhood, account for up to 18% of the variance in amount of PA in amongst T2DM.111,112”
From The Impact of Physical Activity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (2025) · cites this paper as [111]
Research indicates an association between environmental factors and how much physical activity people do.
“Studies have shown a link between the environment and people's levels of physical activity.”
From The Impact of Physical Activity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (2025) · cites this paper as [111]
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- Authors
- Nelson, N. M., Wright, A., Lowry, R. G., & Mutrie, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Strathclyde (GB)
- University of Chichester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Nelson, N.M.
- Venue
- Environmental Health Insights
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2008-01
- Volume
- 2
- Pages
- EHI.S1048
- ISSN
- 1178-6302 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3091344
- OpenAlex
- W1600754907
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Environmental Health Insights (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ulster University Research Portal (Ulster University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Open Access at Essex (University of Essex) (acceptedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- 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
- built environment, physical activity, social ecology, theory of planned behavior, environmental perception, conceptual framework, cross-sectional association
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