Urban green spaces for children: A cross-sectional study of associations with distance, physical activity, screen time, general health, and overweight

This study investigates the associations between: (i) urban green spaces (UGSs), children's frequency and duration of physical activity (PA), and screen time (TV viewing and computer use) and (ii) children's frequency and duration of PA and their general health and overweight. In this study, 'children' includes both younger children and adolescents, ages 1-18. Parent-reported data (n = 422) collected though face-to-face personal interviews between April 1 and May 31, 2015 in the city of Aydin, Turkey were used in the study. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations controlling for children's sex, age, and parents' monthly income. Stratified analyses were also conducted to determine differences between sex (boys and girls) and age (1-6, 7-12, and 13-18 years old) groups of children. The findings showed that UGS closeness to home was positively associated with higher frequency of children's PA (b <=-.22, p <=.001) and less screen time (b <=. 18, p <=.001). Results also revealed that children's frequency of PA positively correlated with children's general health (b <=.08, p <=.05), whereas overweight was associated with only age. In stratified analyses, nearest distance to UGSs was positively associated with both boys' and girls' frequency of PA. On the other hand, longer distance to UGS was associated with longer screen time for only girls. In regard to age groups, nearest distance to UGSs was related to higher frequency of PA for 1-6 and 7-12 years old, while nearest distance to UGS was associated with longer duration of PA and less screen time for only children ages 7-12. In age groups 13-18, no significant differences between variables of UGSs, PA and health were documented. No sex and age groups showed any significant associations with general health and overweight. The findings of this study suggest that distance to UGSs is important for children's PA, screen time, and general health. This study implies that UGSs do not seem to be associated with PA and general health in older age groups and needs further investigations.