Perceptions of environmental supports on the physical activity behaviors of University men and women: A preliminary investigation

Objective: To examine perception differences between genders of university sidewalks and safety from crime on the physical activity (PA) behaviors of undergraduate students. Participants: Five hundred and sixty undergraduate students participated in this study. Methods: The authors derived questions from the South Carolina Environmental Supports for Physical Activity Questionnaire (SCESPAQ) and National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRS) PA module. Results: The authors found a significant mean difference between genders for the Moderate Intensity Item (eg, walking and biking) and the Flexibility Item, t(558) = 3.602, p =.001, and t(558) = 1.946, p =.050, respectively. Of participants surveyed, 30% of women perceived this campus to be extremely safe compared with 49% of men, t(558) = 4.240, p =.001. Gender and the perceptions of sidewalk presence were significantly related (p <.05) to respondents' walking or bicycling patterns. Conclusions: Perceptions of sidewalks and safety from crime on this university campus were related to students' PA behaviors.