The aim of this study was to understand the physical and social characteristics of public open spaces (POS) in low SES neighborhoods that affect adolescents' visitation to and physical activity in POS. Qualitative walk-along interviews were used to obtain detailed and context specific information. This format allowed the interviewer to observe and ask questions while the participant was actually experiencing the environment. Thirty adolescents, aged 12–16 years, participated in this study. All were from low-income neighborhoods in Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp (Belgium). Recruitment took place in thirteen different POS in eight different Flemish neighborhoods. The interviews were conducted during the daytime, on weekdays after school and on weekend days in neutral to good weather conditions.
The interview protocol consisted of three consecutive parts, with the first two taking place prior to the walk-along component of the interview. The first component included questions about demographics, frequency of visiting a POS, duration of a usual visit, activities in POS, satisfaction with number of POS in the neighborhood, transport modes to POS, sport club membership and frequency of attending a sport club. The second set of questions was open-ended and designed to gather information about social environmental factors influencing use of POS. The third part took place during a 30-40 minute walk-along and consisted of questions about characteristics of the environment which encouraged or discouraged the interviewee to visit or be active in the POS. Participants who completed this part of the interview were invited to participate in a second interview at a POS that they do not usually visit. Seven participants agreed to this second walk-along interview which was designed to capture reasons for not visiting that POS.
Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Findings indicated that the most important factors supporting visiting POS were accessibility by foot/bicycle/public transport, location close to home/school, presence of friends and family, cleanliness of the POS, availability of sport and play facilities, large open spaces, and beautiful sceneries. The most frequently mentioned modifiable physical factors for visiting and active use of a POS for both boys and girls were natural features, playgrounds, and sport fields. The most important factors unsupportive of visiting POS and physical activity in POS were presence of undesirable users (drug users, gangs and homeless people), the behavior of other users, and the cleanliness of the POS. Social factors proved to be more influential than physical factors, yet it was the combination of social and physical factors that affected adolescents' visits to and behavior in POS.
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