Table 4 Characteristics of quantitative studies (n = 51)

Location

 USA

34

66.7%

[52, 54,55,56, 44, 43, 57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64, 48, 65, 66, 53, 67,68,69, 41, 45, 70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80]

 Australia

4

7.8%

[42, 49,50,51]

 China

4

7.8%

[81,82,83, 47]

 India

2

3.9%

[46, 84]

 Japan

2

3.9%

[85, 86]

 Other (Canada, Germany, Korea, Norway, South Africa)

5

9.8%

[87,88,89,90,91]

Sample size (rural only)

 101–300

10

19.6%

[41,42,43,44, 61, 69, 75, 76, 83, 88]

 301–500

10

19.6%

[56, 62, 64, 65, 68, 71, 82, 85, 89, 91]

 501–1000

8

15.7%

[51, 53, 58, 66, 73, 74, 86, 90]

 1001–2500

12

23.5%

[48,49,50, 54, 55, 57, 63, 67, 70, 72, 80, 81]

 > 2500

7

13.7%

[87, 47, 45, 77,78,79, 46]

 N/A (aggregated data)

4

7.8%

[52, 59, 60, 84]

Age

 Young + middle-aged (18–65)

5

9.8%

[49, 58, 67, 74, 87]

 Middle-aged only (40–65)

2

3.9%

[50, 85]

 Middle-aged + older (35+)

8

15.7%

[41, 42, 66, 73, 77, 80, 86, 89]

 All age groups

20

39.2%

[43,44,45, 47, 48, 54,55,56, 62, 64, 70, 72, 75, 78, 79, 81,82,83, 88, 91]

 Age range not reported

16

31.4%

[52, 51, 57, 59,60,61, 63, 65, 53, 68, 69, 71, 84, 90, 76, 46]

Gender

 Women only

8

15.7%

[41, 49, 58, 73, 74, 77, 80, 85]

 Mixed

43

84.3%

All others

Types of PA

 Unspecified/total PA

9

17.6%

[42, 44, 46, 50, 63, 65, 77, 89, 90]

 MVPA

21

41.2%

[41, 44, 48, 52, 54, 55, 58, 61, 64, 66, 70,71,72,73,74,75, 80, 85, 87, 90, 91]

 Leisure-time PA

10

19.6%

[43, 45, 49, 50, 53, 55, 63, 83, 88, 89]

 Sports/exercise

2

3.9%

[47, 81]

 Transport-related PA

7

13.7%

[44, 49, 50, 55, 62, 63, 89]

 Active commuting

1

2.0%

[61]

 Total walking

9

17.6%

[48, 51, 54, 65, 67, 68, 72, 88, 91]

 Leisure/recreational walking

5

9.8%

[69, 76, 78, 79, 89]

 Walking for transport

7

13.7%

[57, 69, 76, 78, 79, 84, 86]

 Walking for commuting purposes

3

5.9%

[59, 60, 86]

 Cycling for commuting purposes

3

5.9%

[59, 60, 84]

 Total walking and cycling

1

2.0%

[56]

 Car use (vs. walking)

1

2.0%

[82]

PA measures

 Device-based

  Accelerometers

4

7.8%

[41, 75, 76, 90]

  Pedometers

2

3.9%

[42, 65]

 Self-reported

  IPAQ

14

27.5%

[44, 49, 50, 57, 62, 63, 85, 66, 87, 67,68,69, 89, 91]

  BRFSS

11

21.6%

[43, 45, 48, 52,53,54, 61, 67, 70, 72, 73]

  GPAQ

2

3.9%

[55, 83]

  Other questionnaires

21

41.2%

[81, 82, 51, 56, 58,59,60, 64, 65, 44, 88, 86, 47, 71, 74, 84, 46, 77,78,79,80]

Environmental characteristics

 Availability and accessibility of destinations

15

29.4%

[41, 43, 57, 58, 61, 62, 67, 74, 76, 79, 82, 85, 88, 89, 91]

 Availability and accessibility of places for exercise or recreation

27

52.9%

[52, 81, 55, 43, 57,58,59,60,61,62, 64, 48, 65, 85, 53, 87, 41, 45, 70, 71, 74, 73, 75, 76, 91, 79, 80]

 Availability and accessibility of public transport

9

17.6%

[57, 61, 67, 79, 82, 84, 85, 89, 91]

 Overall accessibility

6

11.8%

[51, 63, 68, 69, 82, 90]

 Density

7

13.7%

[46, 60, 61, 76, 82, 85, 91]

 Land use

4

7.8%

[57, 63, 67, 76]

 Connectivity

8

15.7%

[46, 59, 60, 76, 82, 86, 89, 91]

 Pedestrian infrastructure

17

33.3%

[41, 43, 44, 54, 58, 61, 62, 64, 67, 72, 74, 76, 79, 80, 85, 89, 91]

 Cycling infrastructure

6

11.8%

[41, 61, 62, 85, 87, 91]

 Safety and security

26

51.0%

[54, 55, 44, 43, 83, 57, 42, 58, 61,62,63, 48, 85, 88, 67,68,69, 41, 89, 70, 74,75,76, 46, 91, 80]

 Aesthetics

16

31.4%

[49, 50, 43, 83, 61,62,63, 85, 88, 68, 69, 47, 41, 89, 91, 80]

 Greenness/natural environment

10

19.6%

[41, 43,44,45,46, 59, 60, 76, 77, 89]

 Hilliness

5

9.8%

[44, 46, 67, 76, 80]

 Overall environment

20

39.2%

[82, 55, 51, 56, 44, 49, 50, 43, 42, 62,63,64,65,66, 53, 41, 75, 90, 78, 79]

Environment measures

 Geographic information systems (GIS) (objective)

15

29.4%

[41, 45, 46, 52, 57, 59, 60, 67, 76,77,78, 82, 85,86,87]

 Environmental audits (objective)

3

5.9%

[62, 63, 65]

 Questionnaires (subjective)

  NEWS

7

13.7%

[51, 55, 57, 67, 75, 83, 89]

  RALPESS

5

9.8%

[53, 55, 64, 67, 75]

  IPAQ-E

3

5.9%

[61, 85, 91]

  Other questionnaires

29

56.9%

[54, 81, 82, 56, 44, 49, 50, 43, 42, 58, 62, 48, 65, 66, 88, 68, 69, 47, 41, 70,71,72,73,74, 84, 90, 76, 79, 80]

Quality assessment

 Very high (100%)

7

13.7%

[47,48,49,50,51,52,53]

 High (85–99%)

21

41.2%

[42, 45, 55, 59, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75, 79, 81,82,83,84,85,86,87, 90]

 Medium (60–84%)

21

41.2%

[58, 61, 63, 65, 54, 57, 43, 56, 64, 88, 73, 91, 67, 69, 41, 76,77,78, 80, 71, 89]

 Low (< 60%)

2

3.9%

[44, 46]