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Table 1 Patterns of MVPA for Walkable (W), Mixed, and Less Walkable (LW) groups across time periods: Illustrating hypothetical models and actual empirical support

From: Walkable new urban LEED_Neighborhood-Development (LEED-ND) community design and children's physical activity: selection, environmental, or catalyst effects?

 

Supportive pattern for each time period

Three models explaining MVPA

To/from school

In school

After school

Weekend

1. Selection: Pre-existing preferences for MVPA lead to both selection of the Walkable community & higher MVPA among Walkable community students across settings.

W > M, LW

W > Ma

W > M, LW

W > M, LW

2. Environment: Walkable settings support higher MVPA among those exposed to walkable community settings.

W, M > LW

W = Ma

W > M, LW

W > M, LW

3. Catalyst: MVPA associated with active transportation to school leads to more MVPA, both during the walk and later in the school day, but not on weekends, which lack the before school MVPA catalyst.

W > M > LW

W > M > LW

W > M > LW

W = M, LW

Actual results

    

Hybrid: Results are most consistent with Environmental model (excluding weekends and girls after school)

W,a M > LW

W = M = LW

W > M, LW, boys only

W = M, LW

  1. a School grounds were not assessed for physical activity opportunities so the comparison of W and M in these cells controls for any differences in school environments; however, results are the same if LW group is retained in the test.
  2. b p < .10; all other differences shown in actual results are p < .05