Socio-demographic and perceived environmental correlates of walking in Portuguese adults-A multilevel analysis

Several studies have identified associations between walking levels and socio-demographic and environmental variables. The aim of the present study was to describe walking patterns and examine associations between socio-demographic characteristics and perceived environmental attributes with walking among adults living in the Azorean Archipelago (Portugal). In all, 7330 adult participants (4104 women), aged 38.1 +/- 93 years, of the 2004 Azorean Physical Activity and Health Study answered the Environmental Module and the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Among the Azoreans, the environmental dimension "infrastructures, access to destinations, social environment and aesthetics" and moderate to vigorous physical activity were positively associated with walking levels; and smoking, sitting time and being married were negatively related, regardless of gender, age or education level. Through the cross-sectional nature of this study, our results suggest that targeted programs for Azoreans aimed to increase walking levels should consider that infrastructures, access to destinations, social environment and aesthetics seem to act synergistically and associate positively with walking behaviour. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.