Neighbourhood walkability and transportation and leisure physical activity by residency status: A cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative Canadian data

Objective

We aimed to 1) estimate the differences in transportation (TPA) and leisure physical activity (LPA) participation and duration between Canadian-born and immigrant adults, and 2) examine whether associations between neighbourhood walkability and physical activity differ by residency status.

Methods

We linked Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS; 2017-2018) with Canadian Active Living Environment (2016) data. Participants were urban Canadian-born or immigrant adults (recent: <10 years, established: ≥10 years). Walkability was calculated from counts of neighbourhood intersections, dwellings, and points of interest. Covariate-adjusted Generalized Linear Models estimated the odds ratios (OR) for participation and unstandardized β for minutes of weekly TPA and LPA by residency status with and without adjustment for walkability and for walkability-by-residency interactions.

Results

Recent (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.43) and established immigrants (OR: 1.11, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.20) were more likely than Canadian-born to participate in TPA, but these differences attenuated after controlling for walkability. Recent (OR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.51, 0.67) and established immigrants (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.74, 0.89) were less likely than Canadian-born to participate in LPA, independent of walkability. Recent (β: -20.61, 95%CI: -37.89, -3.34) and established immigrants (β: -18.85, 95%CI: -28.69, -9.00) undertook fewer LPA minutes than Canadian-born, which attenuated after controlling for walkability. Despite being higher in magnitude among Canadian-born, walkability was positively associated with TPA participation and duration regardless of residency status.

Conclusions

Immigrants engaged in more TPA and less LPA than Canadian-born but adjusting for walkability attenuated TPA differences between residency groups. Walkability was positively associated with TPA, with different magnitude between residency groups.