Neighborhood environment, physical activity, and quality of life in adults:Intermediary effects of personal and psychosocial factors

摘要

Background:Studies have indicated that there is a positive and indirect relationship between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL).The current study examined this relationship through a social cognitive model with consideration to the intermediary effects of exercise self-efficacy,and physical (PCS,physical component summary) and psychological (MCS,mental component summary) health.Additionally,this model was widened to include concepts from the ecological theory,and any causal associations among neighborhood environment,PA,and QoL.Methods:Six hundred and eighty-four physically active adults (39.16 ± 13.52 years,mean ± SD),living in Athens,Greece,completed a series of questionnaires measuring PA,QoL,exercise self-efficacy,PCS,MCS,neighborhood environment,and family and friend support for PA.The examined models were analyzed using structural equation modeling.Results:The social cognitive and ecological models proved to be of appropriate fit.Within the social cognitive model,PA positively affected QoL through the mediating effects of exercise self-efficacy,PCS,and MCS.With regards to the ecological model,neighborhood environment positively influenced QoL through the intermediary effects of family support for PA,exercise self-efficacy,PA,PCS,and MCS.Conclusion:Results indicated that the most important mediators in the examined models were exercise self-efficacy and health.Further,findings demonstrated the role of neighborhood environment in enhancing PA and QoL.Future studies should be carried out applying longitudinal data for a better understanding of these associations over time.