Coastal Accessibility and Availability for Physical Activity: A Cross-Sectional Assessment in New Zealand Adults

Abstract

This study aimed to examine cross-sectional relationships between objective measures of the built environment (neighborhood walkability and access to and availability of public open spaces including the coast) with self-reported physical activity in adults residing in Auckland, New Zealand. Methods: A telephone survey captured self-reported physical activity and socio-demographic information from adult residents from randomly selected households. Robust approaches were employed to deriving and “ground-truthing” objective built environment measures around individual addresses. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between environmental factors and being classified as accumulating sufficient physical activity or otherwise. Results: A total of 1986 participants agreed to participate. Compared with those with no coastal access points within an 800 m street network buffer of their residence, those with 1 - 2 access points were 1.45 times more likely to be classified as sufficiently active (95% CI 1.08, 1.94, p = 0.05). Compared with individuals with no coastal settings within their neighborhood buffer, those with at least two coastal settings in their neighborhood were significantly more likely to be sufficiently active (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Access to, and availability of, coastal places were important associates of accumulating sufficient activity for health in this population.