Home Yard and Neighbourhood Physical Environment Latent Class Profiles and Preschooler’s Physical Activity Behaviour: Findings from the PLAYCE Study

Home yard and neighbourhood physical environment typologies were identified using data from 1,634 preschool children. Relationships between neighbourhood typologies and preschooler physical activity behaviour were investigated. Physical activity was measured using accelerometry and parent-reported outdoor play. Traffic exposure, street connectivity, public transport, residential density, land use mix, vegetation, blue space and home yard size were measured objectively. Parent perceptions of the neighbourhood were collected using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale for Youth. Latent profile analysis identified six neighbourhood profiles: ‘No blue space’, ‘Higher blue space’, ‘Higher public transport & destination mix’, ‘Connected residential’, ‘Established’ and ‘Semi-rural’. Living in ‘Higher blue space’ and ‘Semi-rural’ profiles was associated with more minutes of total daily physical activity compared with living in ‘Higher public transport & destination mix’. Further research to understand how urban form varies within and between neighbourhoods by population group and geographic location is needed to guide urban planning and policy.