Inequities in Physical Activity Environments and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Rural Communities
ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 19 — July 7, 2022
PEER REVIEWED
Figure 1.
Standardized mediation effect sizes estimating the indirect effect for the overall score on the physical activity environment and component scores as mediators between race or annual household income and physical activity in 3 rural counties in Georgia, 2019.
| Relationship | Indirect effect, beta (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| Race on physical activity | |
| Overall score | 0.010 (−0.003 to 0.025) |
| Home | 0.016 (0.001 to 0.034) |
| Indoor | −0.001 (−0.012 to 0.007) |
| Outdoor | −0.004 (−0.014 to 0.002) |
| Town | −0.013 (−0.031 to 0.003) |
| School/church | 0 (−0.007 to 0.008) |
| Low income on physical activity | |
| Overall score | −0.014 (−0.029 to −0.002) |
| Home | −0.003 (−0.018 to 0.008) |
| Indoor | −0.010 (−0.023 to 0.001) |
| Outdoor | −0.008 (−0.020 to 0.001) |
| Town | −0.020 (−0.038 to −0.005) |
| School/church | −0.005 (−0.013 to 0.002) |
| Low/medium income on physical activity | |
| Overall score | −0.011 (−0.022 to −0.011) |
| Home | −0.001 (−0.007 to 0.003) |
| Indoor | 0.002 (0.023 to −0.009) |
| Outdoor | 0.001 (0.015 to −0.005) |
| Town | 0.003 (0.020 to −0.008) |
| School/church | 0.001 (0.010 to −0.003) |
While those who are Black were less likely to be physically active (total effect: −0.289), they were more likely to report a more supportive home/neighborhood physical activity environment (beta = 0.179). Given the positive relationship between a more supportive home/neighborhood physical activity environment and leisure-time physical activity (beta = 0.087), the generally more supportive home/neighborhood PA environments perceived by Black respondents reduced the direct effect of self-identification as Black on LTPA (direct effect: −0.304).
Figure 2.
Home/neighborhood physical activity environment as a mediator of the relationship between race and leisure-time physical activity in 3 rural counties in Georgia, 2019.
The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors’ affiliated institutions.