Relationship Between Status of Living Environment and Physical Activity: Role of Mediation in Psychological-Social Factors

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between status of living environment and physical activity and role of mediation in psychological-social factors. The research method was correlation and it type of applied research. The sample consisted of 370 persons who used parks in the city of Ahvaz for physical activity as selected by random sampling. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire with two parts addressing the living environment and psychological-social factors. The data was analyzed in PLS software. The research results showed that, in addition to a direct relationship between psychological-social factors and the living environment on physical activity, the role of mediation in psychological-social factors was observed. If the possibility of changing the living environment and related indicators such as proximity do not exist, psychological-social reinforcement through citizen awareness of the multiple benefits of physical activity and recreational activities can reduce perceived environmental barriers to physical activity.