Staying active in cities: dimensions of urban built environment and mass sport participation
本研究基于SOR理论，通过混合方法开发并验证了一个包含可用性、可达性、设计、安全性和可负担性五个维度的量表，发现这些建成环境因素显著影响居民对体育参与的态度和意愿，为城市体育设施规划提供了实证依据。
Research Question This study investigates how various dimensions of the urban built environment influence individuals’ sport participation, utilizing the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) theory. It aims to fill a research gap by developing a comprehensive scale to assess these environmental factors and their impact on attitudes and intentions toward sport engagement.Research Methods A mixed-methods approach was adopted, starting with a qualitative phase that included semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire with open-ended questions to identify preliminary survey items. This was followed by a quantitative phase to validate these items with a larger sample. The study examined five formative constructs – availability, accessibility, design, safety, and affordability – using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).Results and Findings The analysis confirmed that all five constructs had a significant impact on individuals’ attitudes toward sport participation, which subsequently influenced their intentions to engage in sports. However, a notable proportion of the hypotheses (four out of 11) were not supported, suggesting that while the proposed framework captures key environmental influences, additional factors likely contribute to sport participation behaviors. Despite this, the validated scale provides a valuable tool for assessing the role of the urban built environment in shaping sport engagement, offering a foundation for further refinement and exploration.Implications The findings contribute to both theory and practice by highlighting the importance of accessible, safe, and aesthetically pleasing sport environments in promoting public health and increasing sport participation. The validated scale offers a valuable tool for future research on the role of urban environments in encouraging sport engagement and can inform urban administrators in planning and improving sport-related infrastructure.