File(s) under permanent embargo
Can the built environment reduce health inequalities? A study of neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and walking for transport
journal contribution
posted on 2013-01-01, 00:00 authored by Gavin Turrell, Michele Haynes, Lee-Ann Wilson, Billie Giles-CortiResidents of socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods are more likely to walk for transport than their counterparts in advantaged neighbourhoods; however, the reasons for higher rates of transport walking in poorer neighbourhoods remain unclear. We investigated this issue using data from the HABITAT study of physical activity among 11,037 mid-aged residents of 200 neighbourhoods in Brisbane, Australia. Using a five-step mediation analysis and multilevel regression, we found that higher levels of walking for transport in disadvantaged neighbourhoods was associated with living in a built environment more conducive to walking (i.e. greater street connectivity and land use mix) and residents of these neighbourhoods having more limited access to a motor vehicle. The health benefits that accrue to residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods as a result of their higher levels of walking for transport might help offset the negative effects of less healthy behaviours (e.g. smoking, poor diet), thus serving to contain or reduce neighbourhood inequalities in chronic disease.
History
Journal
Health and placeVolume
19Pagination
89 - 98Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
eISSN
1873-2054Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2012, Elsevier Ltd.Usage metrics
Categories
Keywords
CensusesEnvironment DesignHealth Status DisparitiesPoverty AreasResidence CharacteristicsTransportationHealth inequalitiesWalkingBuilt environmentNeighbourhoodTransportScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicinePublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthBODY-MASS INDEXPHYSICAL-ACTIVITYACTIVE TRANSPORTATIONCARDIOVASCULAR RISKALCOHOL-CONSUMPTIONMULTILEVEL ANALYSISSMOKINGWALKABILITYDEPRIVATIONWEIGHT