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Article: Cross-validation of the factorial structure of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A)

TitleCross-validation of the factorial structure of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A)
Authors
Issue Date2009
PublisherBioMed Central Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.ijbnpa.org/
Citation
International Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition And Physical Activity, 2009, v. 6 n. 32 How to Cite?
AbstractBackground: The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A) assess perceived environmental attributes believed to influence physical activity. A multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) conducted on a sample from Seattle, WA showed that, at the respondent level, the factor-analyzable items of the NEWS and NEWS-A measured 11 and 10 constructs of perceived neighborhood environment, respectively. At the census blockgroup (used by the US Census Bureau as a subunit of census tracts) level, the MCFA yielded five factors for both NEWS and NEWS-A. The aim of this study was to cross-validate the individual- and blockgroup-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A in a geographical location and population different from those used in the original validation study. Methods: A sample of 912 adults was recruited from 16 selected neighborhoods (116 census blockgroups) in the Baltimore, MD region. Neighborhoods were stratified according to their socio-economic status and transport-related walkability level measured using Geographic Information Systems. Participants self-completed the NEWS. MCFA was used to cross-validate the individual- and blockgroup-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A. Results: The data provided sufficient support for the factorial validity of the original individual-level measurement models, which consisted of 11 (NEWS) and 10 (NEWS-A) correlated factors. The original blockgroup-level measurement model of the NEWS and NEWS-A showed poor fit to the data and required substantial modifications. These included the combining of aspects of building aesthetics with safety from crime into one factor; the separation of natural aesthetics and building aesthetics into two factors; and for the NEWS-A, the separation of presence of sidewalks/walking routes from other infrastructure for walking. Conclusion: This study provided support for the generalizability of the individual-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A to different urban geographical locations in the USA. It is recommended that the NEWS and NEWS-A be scored according to their individual-level measurement models, which are relatively stable and correspond to constructs commonly used in the urban planning and transportation fields. However, prior to using these instruments in international and multi-cultural studies, further validation work across diverse non-English speaking countries and populations is needed. © 2009 Cerin et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Persistent Identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/176056
ISSN
2023 Impact Factor: 5.6
2023 SCImago Journal Rankings: 2.485
ISI Accession Number ID
References

 

DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributor.authorCerin, Een_US
dc.contributor.authorConway, TLen_US
dc.contributor.authorSaelens, BEen_US
dc.contributor.authorFrank, LDen_US
dc.contributor.authorSallis, JFen_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-11-26T09:04:47Z-
dc.date.available2012-11-26T09:04:47Z-
dc.date.issued2009en_US
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition And Physical Activity, 2009, v. 6 n. 32en_US
dc.identifier.issn1479-5868en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/176056-
dc.description.abstractBackground: The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A) assess perceived environmental attributes believed to influence physical activity. A multilevel confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) conducted on a sample from Seattle, WA showed that, at the respondent level, the factor-analyzable items of the NEWS and NEWS-A measured 11 and 10 constructs of perceived neighborhood environment, respectively. At the census blockgroup (used by the US Census Bureau as a subunit of census tracts) level, the MCFA yielded five factors for both NEWS and NEWS-A. The aim of this study was to cross-validate the individual- and blockgroup-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A in a geographical location and population different from those used in the original validation study. Methods: A sample of 912 adults was recruited from 16 selected neighborhoods (116 census blockgroups) in the Baltimore, MD region. Neighborhoods were stratified according to their socio-economic status and transport-related walkability level measured using Geographic Information Systems. Participants self-completed the NEWS. MCFA was used to cross-validate the individual- and blockgroup-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A. Results: The data provided sufficient support for the factorial validity of the original individual-level measurement models, which consisted of 11 (NEWS) and 10 (NEWS-A) correlated factors. The original blockgroup-level measurement model of the NEWS and NEWS-A showed poor fit to the data and required substantial modifications. These included the combining of aspects of building aesthetics with safety from crime into one factor; the separation of natural aesthetics and building aesthetics into two factors; and for the NEWS-A, the separation of presence of sidewalks/walking routes from other infrastructure for walking. Conclusion: This study provided support for the generalizability of the individual-level measurement models of the NEWS and NEWS-A to different urban geographical locations in the USA. It is recommended that the NEWS and NEWS-A be scored according to their individual-level measurement models, which are relatively stable and correspond to constructs commonly used in the urban planning and transportation fields. However, prior to using these instruments in international and multi-cultural studies, further validation work across diverse non-English speaking countries and populations is needed. © 2009 Cerin et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_US
dc.languageengen_US
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltd. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.ijbnpa.org/en_US
dc.relation.ispartofInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activityen_US
dc.titleCross-validation of the factorial structure of the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) and its abbreviated form (NEWS-A)en_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.identifier.emailCerin, E: ecerin@hku.hken_US
dc.identifier.authorityCerin, E=rp00890en_US
dc.description.naturelink_to_OA_fulltexten_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/1479-5868-6-32en_US
dc.identifier.pmid19508724-
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-67649713495en_US
dc.identifier.hkuros165052-
dc.relation.referenceshttp://www.scopus.com/mlt/select.url?eid=2-s2.0-67649713495&selection=ref&src=s&origin=recordpageen_US
dc.identifier.volume6en_US
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000267804800001-
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdomen_US
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridCerin, E=14522064200en_US
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridConway, TL=7101933750en_US
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridSaelens, BE=6701427555en_US
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridFrank, LD=7201908054en_US
dc.identifier.scopusauthoridSallis, JF=7102766542en_US
dc.identifier.citeulike4845867-
dc.identifier.issnl1479-5868-

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