How the built environment influences utilitarian physical activity: a normative focus theory model
Date
2008
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Abstract
American rates of obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions (American Public Health Organization, 2005). Recently, Utilitarian Physical Activity (UPA) has been proposed as an intervention (Frank, Engelke, & Schmid, 2003). Rather than expecting exercise for the sake of exercise, UPA promotes walking to work or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Research into how the built environment influences physical activity has, thus far, been based largely on a trial and error method. Additionally, there is currently no theory or proposed mechanism that explains why different features of the built environment influence physical activity, nor why environments that combine known predictors of physical activity do not always have an impact on physical activity. A possible explanation is that in addition to incorporating important design features, the environment also provides normative information. Specifically, the structure of the environment provides information about injunctive norms (what people dis/approve of in situations) and descriptive norms (what people do in specific situations). The purpose of the present project was to determine whether changes in the built environment would lead to changes in perceived norms. Study 1 (n = 871) examined structural equation models from three different university campuses. Results indicated that known features of the built environment contribute substantially to both descriptive and injunctive norms. Both injunctive and descriptive norms were found to form three distinct factors related to UPA on-campus, UPA off-campus, and UPA inside of buildings, and both types of norms mediated the effect of walkability on self-reported UPA. In Study 2, 382 participants evaluated photographs, some of which had been altered in Photoshopâ„¢. Changes in bikes and bike racks were specifically designed to provide information about injunctive (more vs. fewer bike racks) and descriptive (more vs. fewer bikes in racks) norms. Analyses indicated that high levels of injunctive and descriptive norms resulted in higher perceived use of UPA, but had less impact on self-reported use of UPA. These two studies provide evidence that the built environment does help create specific norms. This information is an important step in developing a theoretical approach to design of the built environment for influencing UPA.
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Subject
built environment
college campus
physical activity
utilitarian physical activity
walking
behavioral psychology
social psychology
public health
utilitarianism
physical fitness