Adolescents' Perspectives of Home, School and Neighborhood Environmental Influences on Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors

Patricia Tucker
Public Health Research, Education & Development Program
Middlesex-London Health Unit
London, Ontario, Canada

Jennifer D. Irwin
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada

Jason Gilliland
Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada

Meizi He
Department of Health & Kinesiology, University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas

Department of Health & Kinesiology, University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas

Citation: Tucker, Patricia, Jennifer D. Irwin, Jason Gilliland and Meizi He (2008). "Adolescents' Perspectives of Home, School and Neighborhood Environmental Influences on Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviors ." Children, Youth and Environments 18 (2): 12-35. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

This investigation sought to gain an understanding of how youth perceive neighborhood environmental influences on their physical activity and eating behaviors. This qualitative study targeted a heterogeneous sample of 12- to 14- year-olds in London, Ontario, Canada. Using a semi-structured interview guide, we conducted nine focus groups (n = 60) and used inductive content analysis to investigate their discussions. Most participants discussed their school, parks, and opportunity structures around their homes as influencing their physical activity, and overwhelmingly reported the availability of fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and slow-food restaurants in their neighborhoods as influencing their eating practices.  The descriptive information collected through this study is potentially significant for the efforts of city planners, policy makers, health professionals, school officials, and parents to promote and support healthier youth behaviors.

Keywords: physical activity, eating habits, youth, environmental influences