Characteristics of Community Programs and Policies: Associations With Physical Activity in Youth

Abstract

Introduction

This study examined the associations between the characteristics of community programs and policies and children's physical activity in a large, diverse set of U.S. communities.

Methods

Field staff interviewed key informants to identify community programs and policies aimed at promoting children's physical activity in 130 communities. Children and/or parents reported children's participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Community demographic characteristics were determined from census data, and communities were categorized on the basis of predominant race/ethnicity profile and SES. A total of 9,689 community programs and policies were identified across the participating communities, and each was coded for multiple characteristics. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was assessed in 5,138 elementary and middle-school students (mean age [SD]=9.28 [2.65] years). The study was a secondary analysis of data collected in 2013–2015. Data were analyzed in 2023–2025 using classification and regression trees to identify community demographic variables and characteristics of community programs and policies that were cross-sectionally associated with children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activities.

Results

Results of the classification and regression trees analysis showed that community race/ethnicity and SES were strongly associated with child moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Several characteristics of community programs and policies (e.g., targeting increased participation in school sports) were found to be associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activities, but those associations were observed only within community race/ethnicity—SES subgroups.

Conclusions

The findings of this study support the conclusion that community-based actions to promote physical activity in children should be tailored to the demographic characteristics of the community.