The Impact of the Built Environment and Social Environment on Physical Activity: A Scoping Review

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 12; p. 6189
• Main Authors: Wang, Yiyu, Steenbergen, Bert, van der Krabben, Erwin, Kooij, Henk-Jan, Raaphorst, Kevin, Hoekman, Remco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 20-06-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Built Environment; Chronic illnesses; Data Management; Databases, Factual; Energy consumption; Environment Design; Exercise; Gender; Humans; Influence; Interdisciplinary aspects; Land use; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Research methods; Residence Characteristics; Review; Reviews; Social Environment; Social networks; Sociology; Standardization; Urban environments; Urban planning; Womens health; built environment; social environment; physical activity
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126189

This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the current state of physical activity research, focusing on the interplay between built and social environments and their respective influences on physical activity. We comprehensively searched electronic databases to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2022. A total of 35 articles have been reviewed based on the research question. The review found that built and social environments influence physical activity, and consideration of people's perceptions of their surroundings can provide further insight. The literature was summarized, and recommendations were made for future research. Findings suggest that interventions targeting built and social environments can promote physical activity effectively. However, limitations in the literature exist, including a need for more standardization in research methods and consistency in measurement tools.