The Moderate Effects of Access to Play Spaces on Adolescents’ Physical Activity

This cross-sectional study explored whether the relationship between adolescents’ physical activity and related factors (such as personal and social factors, and parental safety concern) differed according to adolescents’ levels of access to play spaces. Data from Wave 3 of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) national longitudinal study, a nationally representative sample of 5212 adolescents aged 17–18 years, was analyzed. Key study variables included adolescents’ physical activity, personal factors (gender, health status, parents’ education and physical activity levels, and active commuting), social factors (number of friends, family support), and parental safety concerns (perceived safety of walking/playing and neighborhood safety). Two structural equation models (SEMs) were employed to compare relationships among physical activity and related factors for adolescents with high and low access to play spaces. Results showed that adolescents living in areas with high access to play spaces reported significantly higher levels of physical activity. Parents’ levels of education and the number of friends available for play had significant impacts on adolescents’ physical activity, regardless of access to play spaces. However, parental perception of the safety of walking and playing was only significant for adolescents with low access to parks. The associations between related factors and adolescents’ levels of physical activity differed for those with high and low access to play spaces, suggesting that interventions promoting adolescents’ physical activity may not yield equal results across these groups. A key limitation of this study is its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported measures, which preclude causal inference.