Neighborhood Safety and Physical Activity Engagement

The interplay between neighbourhood safety and engagement in physical activity has become a focal point for researchers and policy-makers aiming to foster healthier communities. Studies reveal that both objective crime rates and individuals’ subjective perceptions of safety significantly influence patterns of walking, cycling and other forms of exercise. Safety concerns can deter outdoor activity—particularly after dark or in under-resourced areas—while positive perceptions bolster confidence and self-efficacy. The built environment, encompassing street connectivity, park access, lighting and pedestrian infrastructure, interacts with social dimensions such as cohesion, collective efficacy and aesthetic quality to shape both recreational and transport-related activity. Research methods range from cross-sectional GIS analyses to longitudinal cohort studies employing accelerometry and police crime data. Insights from this field underpin targeted urban design, community engagement and public health interventions with global relevance for reducing sedentary behaviour, addressing obesity and narrowing health inequalities across diverse populations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Neighborhood Safety and Physical Activity Engagement publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in neighborhood safety and physical activity engagement across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Built environment: The physical characteristics of a neighbourhood, including street layout, land use mix, and availability of parks and amenities.

Perceived safety: An individual’s subjective judgement of the risk of harm or crime in their immediate environment.

Social cohesion: The strength of relationships, trust and shared norms among residents within a community.

Recreational walking: Walking undertaken primarily for leisure, health or exercise rather than as a means of transportation.

Moderator: A variable that alters the strength or direction of the relationship between an independent and a dependent variable.

References

1. Can good neighbourhood perception magnify the positive effect of favourable built environment on recreational walking in China?. BMC Public Health (2024).
2. The neighborhood social environment and physical activity: a systematic scoping review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2019).
3. Associations Between Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Physical Activity in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2017. Preventing Chronic Disease (2019).