Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada)
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Experimental Section
2.1. Data
2.2. Concepts and Measures
2.2.1. Dependent Variable
It is difficult for me to walk more often because… | Sample Size | % Disagreed | % Agreed |
---|---|---|---|
Accessibility | |||
Work is too far away a | 84 | 48.8% | 51.2% |
School is too far away b | 49 | 59.2% | 40.8% |
Other destinations are too far away | 136 | 62.5% | 37.5% |
Appearance Concerns | |||
I don’t like to get hot and sweaty | 141 | 80.9% | 19.1% |
I don’t like being exposed to the sun | 146 | 74.0% | 26.0% |
Exercise Saturation | |||
I get plenty of exercise by other means | 138 | 57.2% | 42.8% |
I walk enough already | 135 | 74.8% | 25.2% |
I walk too much already | 139 | 94.2% | 5.8% |
Health | |||
I have a physical disability that affects my ability to walk | 166 | 78.9% | 21.1% |
I have an injury that affects my ability to walk | 152 | 75.7% | 24.3% |
I’m too old | 156 | 99.4% | 0.6% |
I’m not in good health | 153 | 81.7% | 18.3% |
Neighborhood Safety | |||
I don’t have a safe place to walk because of crime | 155 | 89.7% | 10.3% |
I don’t have a safe place to walk because of stray dogs | 157 | 94.9% | 5.1% |
Streets have poor lighting at night | 138 | 82.6% | 17.4% |
I don’t feel safe walking alone during the day | 160 | 96.3% | 3.8% |
I don’t feel safe walking alone at night | 156 | 60.9% | 39.1% |
Sidewalk Quality | |||
There are no sidewalks in my neighborhood | 163 | 96.9% | 3.1% |
The sidewalks in my neighborhood are not well maintained | 160 | 94.4% | 5.6% |
Time Availability | |||
I don’t have time | 141 | 56.0% | 44.0% |
I don’t make time | 145 | 42.8% | 57.2% |
I don’t have childcare assistance c | 44 | 75.0% | 25.0% |
I work too much a | 76 | 59.2% | 40.8% |
Walking Preference | |||
I don’t like to walk | 146 | 90.4% | 9.6% |
I don’t feel like walking | 136 | 75.7% | 24.3% |
I have no one to walk with | 142 | 83.1% | 16.9% |
Routes are boring | 136 | 79.4% | 20.6% |
Traffic Safety | |||
There is too much traffic in my neighborhood | 139 | 83.5% | 16.5% |
Drivers often exceed the posted speed limits in my neighborhood | 145 | 54.5% | 45.5% |
There are dangerous crossings in my neighborhood | 138 | 73.9% | 26.1% |
2.2.2. Independent Variables
Variables | Statistics |
---|---|
Age | |
Young Adults (18–30) | 16.2% |
Middle Ages (31–64) | 62.0% |
Senior Citizens (65+) | 21.8% |
Female | 69.3% |
Income Classification | |
Income Poor | 14.0% |
Middle Income | 33.5% |
Income Rich | 22.3% |
Missing Income | 30.2% |
Marital Status—Single | 39.7% |
Parent of Child(ren) | 31.3% |
Driver’s License Ownership | 85.5% |
Public Transit Pass Ownership | 17.3% |
Currently a Student | 17.9% |
Currently Employed | 52.5% |
Walkability Index, mean (s.d.) | 0.000 (3.826) |
Body Mass Index, mean (s.d.) | 27.380 (6.851) |
2.3. Analysis Methodology
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Preliminary Analysis
3.2. Model Results
3.2.1. Age
It Is Difficult for Me to Walk more often because… | Young Adults (18–30) | Senior Citizens (65+) | Income Poor | Middle Income | Female | Single | Student | Worker | Parent | Driver‘s License | Transit Pass | Body Mass Index | Walkability Index |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accessibility | |||||||||||||
Destinations are too far away (excludes school and work) | 2.825 | - | - | - | 2.043 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Appearance Concerns | |||||||||||||
I don’t like to get hot and sweaty | - | - | - | - | 3.118 | - | 2.627 | - | - | - | - | 2.224 | 1.121 |
I don‘t like being exposed to the sun | - | - | - | - | 3.303 | 0.461 | - | - | - | - | - | 1.763 | - |
Exercise Saturation | |||||||||||||
I walk enough already | 4.912 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
I get plenty of exercise by other means | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.403 | - | - | - |
Health | |||||||||||||
I’m not in good health | - | - | 20.730 | 13.474 | - | - | 0.287 | - | - | - | - | 1.818 | - |
I have a physical disability that affects my ability to walk | - | - | 10.141 | 6.292 | - | - | - | 0.338 | - | 0.395 | - | - | - |
I have an injury that affects my ability to walk | - | - | - | - | - | 2.312 | - | 0.356 | - | - | - | - | - |
Neighborhood Safety | |||||||||||||
I don’t have a safe place to walk because of crime | - | - | 11.261 | 4.181 | - | - | 0.119 | - | 0.339 | - | - | - | 1.191 |
Streets have poor lighting at night | - | 2.710 | - | - | 2.226 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
I don’t feel safe walking alone at night | - | - | - | - | 7.630 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.597 | - |
Time Availability | |||||||||||||
I don’t have time | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2.410 | - | - | - | - | - |
I don’t make time | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.902 | - | - | - | 1.708 | - |
Traffic Safety | |||||||||||||
There is too much traffic in my neighborhood | - | 2.413 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.673 | - |
Drivers often exceed the posted speed limits in my neighborhood | - | - | - | 2.596 | 2.021 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
There are dangerous crossings in my neighborhood | - | 3.577 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Walking Preference | |||||||||||||
I don’t like to walk | - | 3.816 | - | - | - | - | 3.430 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
I don’t feel like walking | - | - | - | - | - | 2.332 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
I have no one to walk with | - | 5.491 | - | 2.495 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Routes are boring | - | - | - | - | 3.406 | - | - | - | - | - | 2.194 | - | - |
3.2.2. Income Status
3.2.3. Female
3.2.4. Marital Status
3.2.5. Student Status
3.2.6. Employment Status
3.2.7. Parenthood
3.2.8. Driver’s License Ownership
3.2.9. Transit Pass Ownership
3.2.10. Body Mass Index
3.2.11. Walkability Index
4. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Clark, A.F.; Scott, D.M. Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada). Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020179
Clark AF, Scott DM. Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2016; 13(2):179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020179
Chicago/Turabian StyleClark, Andrew F., and Darren M. Scott. 2016. "Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada)" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 13, no. 2: 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020179
APA StyleClark, A. F., & Scott, D. M. (2016). Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(2), 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13020179