Validation of the neighborhood environment walkability scale for adolesence: A questionnaire for assessing environmental correlates of physical activity

ABSTRACT
The rising incidence of obesity in childhood and adolescence is regarded as one of the foremost worldwide health concerns. Insufficient physical exercise is a significant issue affecting the health of children. The many advantages of physical activity in preserving and enhancing the health of children and adolescents are widely acknowledged. This study rigorously modified the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale youth version to suit the context of Iran and assessed the reliability and validity of the modified version among adolescents. The present study methodology employed is a cross-sectional survey. Field surveys were conducted to reconstruct a tool for evaluating the local environment for teenagers. The Iranian specialists conducted a cultural adaption of the NEWS. A total of 45 students successfully filled out the questionnaire during the pre-test phase. A cluster random sampling method was employed to choose participants from various groups. The sample size consists of 417 teenagers ranging in age from 14 to 17. The main scale information has been maintained with suitable compatibility and changes for contextual variations. This is the initial adaptation of the neighborhood environment walkability scale for adolescents in Iran. The results suggest that this scale is a dependable instrument and may be utilized for future investigations. The content of the original scale has been preserved with appropriate adaptation and adjustment for contextual differences also that can be used to assess user needs and identify their priorities.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
The rising incidence of obesity in childhood and adolescence is regarded as one of the foremost worldwide health concerns. Insufficient physical exercise is a significant issue affecting the health of children. The many advantages of physical activity in preserving and enhancing the health of children and adolescents are widely acknowledged. Walking has several benefits, including efficient use of time, reduced chance of injury, social acceptance, and finally the natural pleasure it provides, making it a valuable investment for improving overall health. The initial stage of policy regulation involves identifying elements that have a significant impact on people's levels of physical activity. Obesity is an intricate and multifactorial illness that arises from the interplay of hereditary and environmental variables. Research has regularly shown correlation between built environment elements and levels of physical activity. Developing culturally sensitive and trustworthy metrics is an essential initial stage for accurately analyzing the environmental factors that influence physical activity in Iran. Thus far, there has been a lack of a quantitative instrument to evaluate the perception of environmental neighborhoods among Iranian teenagers. This study rigorously modified the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale youth version to suit the context of Iran and assessed the reliability and validity of the modified version among adolescents.
 
Methodology
To accomplish this objective, a descriptive survey has been employed, using an approach known as exploratory factor analysis. The present study methodology employed is a cross-sectional survey. Field surveys were conducted to reconstruct a tool for evaluating the local environment for teenagers. The steps were translation, validation, assessment of content and visual validity, and surveys. The Iranian specialists conducted a cultural adaption of the NEWS. A total of 45 students successfully filled out the questionnaire during the pre-test phase. The coefficients for discrimination, consistency, and acceptance were computed. The research population comprises all secondary school pupils in the 4th district of Tehran municipality. To ensure socioeconomic position homogeneity of the samples, the population was separated into 6 categories based on property values. A cluster random sampling method was employed to choose participants from various groups. The sample size consists of 417 teenagers ranging in age from 14 to 17.
 
Results and discussion
Examining subjective elements is crucial for finding treatments that might improve pedestrian behavior and physical activity by altering perceptions of the environment or community features. Previous studies suggest that employing standardized questionnaires, in addition to other research methodologies, can yield more dependable findings when identifying criteria for pedestrian activity in communities by analyzing the mental interpretations of teenagers. To do this, the translation and back-translation process was supervised by specialists and carried out through pilot testing, surveys, and factor analysis. The tool's validity was assessed by doing content validity and structural validity analyses, specifically utilizing factor analysis. In terms of the tool's reliability proof, Cronbach's alpha coefficient demonstrated a good level of dependability among the research population. The items identified by exploratory factor analysis were categorized into seven factors and assigned names based on expert opinion, taking into account the types of variables that make up each component. This study further demonstrates that the NEWS (National Early Warning Score) has satisfactory reliability, with an RTT (reliability test threshold) of 0.7. The primary determinants of safety, aesthetics, availability of physical activity facilities, access to street connections, variety of land use mix, sports facilities, and recreational areas were found. The research findings may not completely align with earlier studies. The main scale information has been maintained with suitable compatibility and changes for contextual variations. This is the initial adaptation of the neighborhood environment walkability scale for adolescents in Iran. It showcases a systematic adaptation process used by earlier studies.
 
Conclusion
Regular physical exercise is crucial for the overall well-being of children and adolescents since it is a fundamental aspect of the field of health science. Hence, it is crucial to comprehend the impact of environmental attributes in communities on the physical activity levels of teenagers. The questionnaire has 61 items that may be administered separately, with each item requiring around 10 to 20 minutes to reply to. According to the study background, it seems that more dependable outcomes may be obtained by using a standard questionnaire with other research methodologies to establish criteria for measuring the walkability of areas based on the mental views of adolescents. The assessment tool's validity evidence and statistical analysis of findings indicate that this questionnaire is valid for the intended population. The research findings validate the dependability of the measuring instrument, with the items and ideas of this tool being influenced by research settings and cultural characteristics, as observed across many nations. The variables derived from factor analysis can effectively assess the subjective walkability of teenagers in thearea. Thus, it can be inferred that this questionnaire is suitably trustworthy and valid for assessing environmental perceptions associated with physical activity behavior, specifically tailored for Iran.
The results suggest that this scale is a dependable instrument and may be utilized for future investigations. The content of the original scale has been preserved with appropriate adaptation and adjustment for contextual differences also that can be used to assess user needs and identify their priorities.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors’ Contribution
Authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved thecontent of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
Authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.