The social nature of parks: associations between social interactions and park visitation and physical activity among children and adolescents

Parks can support physical activity and socializing. While children and adolescents' use of these settings is largely socially driven, little is known about relationships between social factors and park visitation and physical activity. This study examined associations between social interactions in parks and park use behaviour among children and adolescents, respectively. Children (8-12 years, n = 213) and adolescents (13-18 years, n = 210) self-reported accompaniment, frequency of socializing during park visits, frequency of seeing known people in parks, park visitation (frequency, duration), park-based activity, and demographics. Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, dog ownership, and school-level socio-economic status, examined associations of social interactions with park visitation (frequency, duration) and park-based physical activity. Children who socialized in parks most of the time and who visited with family or friends had higher odds of visiting parks ≥ once/week and engaging in physical activity compared to children who rarely socialized and only visited with family. Adolescents who more frequently socialized spent more time at the park, visited the park ≥ once per week, and were more likely to be active compared to those who rarely socialized. Adolescents who visited with family and friends visited parks for longer compared to those who visited alone. Given the link between social interactions and park use, understanding how park design and social activities (e.g. programming) can support social interaction is critical for increasing children and adolescents' park use. Future interventions may benefit from targeting both social and physical park environments. Further research should examine causal associations.