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Influence of park visitation on physical activity, well-being and social connectedness among Australians during COVID-19

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posted on 2025-04-09, 00:04 authored by Elise RiveraElise Rivera, L Arundell, K Parker, J Veitch, J Salmon, ND Ridgers, A Timperio, SL Sahlqvist, VHY Loh
This cross-sectional study examined associations of park visitation with physical activity (PA), well-being, and social connectedness among 1089 participants during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In August 2020, adolescents and adults in Australia self-reported demographics, usual park visitation, frequency and duration of park visits, PA, well-being and social connectedness. Multilevel linear regression models examined associations of park visitation with well-being and social connectedness. Multilevel mixed-effects negative binomial regression models examined associations between visitation and PA. Compared to not visiting a park, visitation was positively associated with well-being (B = 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24, 6.60) and days/week performing PA for 30 min (B = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.11, 1.39) per day and negatively associated with social connectedness (B = -3.75, 95% CI = -7.11, -0.39). Compared to visiting a park less than once/week, visiting once/week was positively associated with well-being (B = 3.90, 95% CI = 0.53, 7.21). Visiting more than once/week was positively associated with days/week performing PA for 30 min (B = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.21, 1.58) and 60 min (B = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.64) per day and with well-being (B = 4.19, 95% CI = 0.90, 7.49). Duration of park visits was positively associated with days/week performing PA for 30 min (B = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.13) and 60 min (B = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.17) per day. Our findings highlight the role of parks in positively influencing health-related outcomes and the 'dosage' of park use needed to attain health benefits.

History

Volume

39

Issue

5

Start Page

1

End Page

11

Number of Pages

11

eISSN

1460-2245

ISSN

0957-4824

Location

England

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Publisher License

CC BY-NC

Additional Rights

CC BY-NC 4.0

Language

eng

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • Yes

Author Research Institute

  • Appleton Institute

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Medium

Print

Journal

Health Promotion International

Article Number

daae137

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