# Patterns of perceived neighborhood environment and physical activity in adolescents: a latent class analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that adolescents who perceive their neighborhood as diverse and safe are more likely to engage in recreational physical activities.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel use of latent class analysis to identify distinct neighborhood environment patterns and their specific associations with physical activity types in adolescents.

## Key findings

- Four neighborhood environment patterns were identified: 'not diverse and unsafe', 'not diverse and safe', 'diverse and unsafe', and 'diverse and safe'.
- Perceiving the neighborhood as 'diverse and safe' was significantly linked to more time spent on recreational activities.
- Environment patterns were not associated with sports, physical exercise, or active transportation.

## Abstract

To identify patterns of characteristics of the perceived neighborhood environment and relate them to the types of physical activity practiced by adolescents.

Observational epidemiological study with 1,066 adolescents (55.2% female, 10 to 13 years old) from João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Environmental characteristics were measured using a 16-item scale in three domains (places for practice, urban and traffic safety) and types of physical activity practice (recreation, sports, physical exercise and active commuting — minutes/week) by questionnaire. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was applied to identify patterns of environmental characteristics and linear regression to relate them to the types of practice.

LCA identified four patterns of environmental characteristics: "not diverse and unsafe" (26.6%), "not diverse and safe" (13.6%), "diverse and unsafe" (30.8%), and "diverse and safe" (29.6%). Perceiving the environment as "diverse and safe" was positively and significantly associated with the time spent practicing recreational activities (β=42.16; 95%CI 4.35–79.97). The patterns of environmental characteristics were not associated with the time spent practicing sports, physical exercise, and active transportation.

adolescents who perceived the neighborhood environment as "diverse and safe" had a longer time practicing recreational activities.

Identificar os padrões das características do ambiente percebido do bairro e relacioná-los com os tipos de prática de atividade física (AF) em adolescentes.

Estudo epidemiológico observacional, com 1.066 adolescentes (55,2% do sexo feminino, de 10 a 13 anos de idade) de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil. As características do ambiente foram mensuradas por meio de escala com 16 itens em 3 domínios (locais para AF, segurança urbana e no trânsito) e os tipos de prática de atividade física (recreação, esportes, exercícios físicos e deslocamento ativo — minutos/semana), por questionário. A Análise de Classes Latentes (ACL) foi aplicada para identificar os padrões das características do ambiente e a regressão linear para relacioná-los com os tipos de prática.

A ACL identificou quatro padrões das características do ambiente: "não diversificado e inseguro" (26,6%), "não diversificado e seguro" (13,6%), "diversificado e inseguro" (30,8%), e "diversificado e seguro" (29,6%). Perceber o ambiente como "diversificado e seguro" associou-se de forma positiva e significativa ao tempo de prática de atividades recreativas (β=42,16; IC95% 4,35–79,97). Os padrões das características do ambiente não se associaram ao tempo de prática de esportes, exercícios físicos e deslocamento ativo.

Adolescentes que percebiam o ambiente do bairro "diversificado e seguro" apresentaram maior tempo de prática em atividades recreativas.