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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

WR2_2_1: Abstract presentations: Active Living in Natural and Urban Environments
Location: White room 2
Session Chair: Berry van Holland

Presentation 7

10:48am - 10:58am

Association between nature relatedness and physical activity in adults—a population-based northern Finland birth cohort 1986 study

Soile Puhakka^1,2,4, Pekka Korpelainen^1,2,3, Anna-Maiju Leinonen^1,2,4,5, Maisa Niemelä^5,6, Maija Korpisaari^1,2,3, Raija Korpelainen^1,2,4, Tiina Lankila^1,3,4

1: Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Oulu Deaconess Foundation, Finland; 2: Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland; 3: The Geography Research Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Finland; 4: Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Finland; 5: Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Finland; 6: Centre for Wireless Communications, University of Oulu, Finland

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases and death worldwide. Recent evidence has demonstrated the various benefits of nature exposure and nature relatedness (NR) on human health. Natural environments have also been shown to promote physical activity (PA). The aim of this study was to explore the associations between NR and total leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in adults.

The study population included individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 who participated in follow-up data collection via postal questionnaire and clinical examinations at age 33 years (n = 1995). LTPA was self-reported with questions about the frequency and duration of light and moderate to vigorous (MVPA) physical activities during leisure time. Weekly LTPA was calculated by multiplying the duration of light PA and MVPA by intensity in METs (metabolic equivalent of task) (light PA = 3 METs and MVPA = 5 METs). Association between NR and LTPA was analyzed with multiple linear regression analysis.

The mean weekly total LTPA of the participants was 993 (95% CI 961, 1024) MET-minutes. The mean NR score was 29.7 (SD 5.4). In the unadjusted model, NR (β = 27, CI 95% 22, 32) was positively associated with LTPA. After adjusting for smoking and waist circumference, NR (β = 25, CI 95% 18, 31) remained a significant determinant of LTPA.

Nature relatedness was positively associated with self-reported total leisure-time physical activity. This information could be utilized by strengthening nature relatedness to promote physical activity of adults.