Grant: Operating Grant

Neighbourhood built environments can support and constrain the physical activity that adults undertake. Associations between neighbourhood built environment characteristics and physical activity exist, yet little is known about how the built environment influences individual's decisions to adopt and adhere to "individual-targeted" physical activity interventions, especially among initially inactive adults. The over-arching aim of our project is to investigate the extent to which built neighbourhood characteristics constrain or facilitate physical activity participation among initially "inactive" adults enrolled in pedometer-focused physical activity intervention (UWALK) in Calgary (Alberta, Canada). This research will involve a quasi-experimental study with 'inactive' adults (n=2,235) volunteering to participate in the UWALK pedometer intervention for 6-months. Longitudinal changes in physical activity (adoption, adherence, self-reported and pedometer-determined levels), perceived walkability, and motivation will be captured and correlated with the objectively-assessed 'walkability' of participant's immediate neighbourhoods. Semi-structure interviews will be conducted with a sub-sample of participants (n=30) to capture their experiences with regard to their attempts to adopt and adhere to the UWALK pedometer-focused intervention. This research will advance understanding about how the neighbourhood built environment limit facilitate the effectiveness of physical activity interventions targeted an individual behaviour change and about the pathways by which the neighbourhood built environment influences physical activity motivation and behaviour in adults.