Proximity to sports facilities and sports participation for adolescents in Germany.
- Reimers AK Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany; Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Wagner M Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
- Alvanides S Department of Geography and the Built Environment, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
- Steinmayr A Swiss Institute for Empirical Economic Research (SEW), University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
- Reiner M Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Schmidt S Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Woll A Institute of Sport and Sport Sciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
- 2014-03-29
Published in:
- PloS one. - 2014
Adolescent
Databases, Factual
Germany
Humans
Leisure Activities
Motor Activity
Public Facilities
Socioeconomic Factors
Sports
Surveys and Questionnaires
English
OBJECTIVES
To assess the relationship between proximity to specific sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities for adolescents in Germany.
METHODS
A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11-17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. Community-level socio-demographics as covariates were selected from the INKAR database, in particular from indicators and maps on land development. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between proximity to the nearest sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities.
RESULTS
The logistic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Improved proximity to gyms is likely to be more important for female adolescents living in rural areas.
To assess the relationship between proximity to specific sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities for adolescents in Germany.
METHODS
A sample of 1,768 adolescents aged 11-17 years old and living in 161 German communities was examined. Distances to the nearest sports facilities were calculated as an indicator of proximity to sports facilities using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Participation in specific leisure-time sports activities in sports clubs was assessed using a self-report questionnaire and individual-level socio-demographic variables were derived from a parent questionnaire. Community-level socio-demographics as covariates were selected from the INKAR database, in particular from indicators and maps on land development. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between proximity to the nearest sports facilities and participation in the corresponding sports activities.
RESULTS
The logistic regression analyses showed that girls residing longer distances from the nearest gym were less likely to engage in indoor sports activities; a significant interaction between distances to gyms and level of urbanization was identified. Decomposition of the interaction term showed that for adolescent girls living in rural areas participation in indoor sports activities was positively associated with gym proximity. Proximity to tennis courts and indoor pools was not associated with participation in tennis or water sports, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Improved proximity to gyms is likely to be more important for female adolescents living in rural areas.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0093059
- PMID 24675689
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/75573
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