Details

Purpose: To share the latest analyses on estimating associations between home and neighbourhood environments with active travel (AT) and sedentary time (ST) in adolescents from 15 countries. We will also present analyses of various GIS-based measures of destinations and land-use mix available in the IPEN Adolescent (IPEN-A) study to identify the most promising indicators.

Rationale: Adolescent physical activity (PA) levels are declining globally, and only a small proportion of adolescents meet the PA recommendations. To improve physical and mental health-related outcomes over time, PA participation must become a regular part of everyday living. Efforts to increase PA engagement have only briefly and marginally improved outcomes. Moreover, adolescents’ ST increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. A variety of contexts influences participation in PA and ST. The built environment (BE) can assist to increase and maintain PA engagement, though there is a dearth of international research, particularly in adolescents. Built environments and ST have been seldom studied among adolescents.

The IPEN-A multicountry study aims to advance the science of environmental correlates of PA and ST to inform policy and practice changes locally and internationally.

The primary aim of IPEN-A is to estimate strength, shape, and generalizability (across cities) of associations of objective (GIS-based) and reported measures of the neighbourhood environment with accelerometer-measured minutes of MVPA and ST, along with multiple reported PA indices in adolescents aged 11-19, from data collected according to a common protocol in 15 countries.

Objective: To share the latest IPEN-A results and how they can inform policy and practice, challenge measures used to describe environmental indices and provide opportunities for ongoing international research.

Format: Erica Hinckson (chair) will provide an overview of the IPEN-A study. Anna Timperio will present on the estimated associations of parent-perceived neighbourhood environment characteristics with self-reported AT to school. Anjana RM will present on the estimated associations between perceived home and neighbourhood environments with accelerometer-based measures of adolescent ST. Ester Cerin will present associations of GIS-based destinations and land-use mix indicators with key measures of adolescents’ PA (accelerometer and self-reported) and with parent-reported proximity to destinations. The primary aim of these analyses is to assess construct and criterion/content validity of various GIS-based destinations and land-use mix measures. Jo Salmon will discuss the findings and facilitate a discussion with attendees.

Interaction: Delegates will be able to engage in a question-and-answer session and opportunities will be provided to share methods and related findings.

Speaker