Does Race or Sex Moderate the Perceived Built Environment/Physical Activity Relationship in College Students?

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between the perceived built environment and physical activity (PA) among college students, and to determine whether race and/or sex moderate this relationship. Participants were 785 college students (435 students in Study 1 and 350 in Study 2). Students completed questionnaires assessing characteristics of their neighborhood, and were followed up 1 (Study 1) or 2 (Study 2) weeks later to measure PA levels. Seeing others in one's neighbourhood being active was found to be significantly related (p < .01) to higher levels of PA for students in both studies. In Study 2, race was found to moderate the relationship between having many places within walking distance and PA, affecting African Americans more strongly than Caucasians. Sex was not found to moderate the perceived built environment/PA relationship. It appears that certain aspects of the perceived built environment may have an effect on the level of PA in college students, with race moderating this relationship.