# Identifying the reciprocal associations between the built environment, social networks, and physical activity among youth in the summer

> **NIH NIH K01** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 2024 · $154,004

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Despite the many physical, psychological, and social benefits that can be gained, many youths do not regularly
achieve recommended amounts of physical activity (PA). Summer is a particularly challenging time away from
the structure and resources schools provide that facilitate health bringing changes in social relationships as well
as the built environment to which youth are exposed. Reviews of existing evidence highlight a significant need
for more nuanced measurement including the use of intensive longitudinal data (ILD) to separate the effects of
social and built environments as well as their reciprocal determinism and mutual influence on youth PA.
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) is a promising method to collect ILD by gathering real-time self-reports
of behaviors, contexts, and perceptions in naturalistic settings. Social network analysis (SNA) has the potential
to provide a more nuanced and in-depth information such as dyadic and personal network measures of social
bridging, bonding, norms, and influence. To examine these influences on a more granular level, this project
will evaluate the feasibility of combining EMA and SNA techniques to collect primary data describing
social and built environment associations with PA within a sample of youth during the summer. To
examine the feasibility of using both EMA and SNA, 100 youth (12-15 years, going into 7th-9th grade) will be
recruited through a partnership with a local school district to participate in a survey, 7-day EMA, and follow-up
interview. Youth will report their most salient social connections and built environment perceptions via researcher
administered surveys. EMA will elicit momentary perceptions of social and built environments, which will be time
matched with the accelerometer assessed PA data. Specific characteristics of youth personal networks will be
captured through SNA and momentary perceptions of these networks using EMA. Likewise, we will measure
built environment through momentary perceptions and GIS data. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed
by examining predictors of EMA response rate and using qualitative interviews. Further, we will use ILD to
uncover micro-temporal dynamics, bidirectional effects unfolding over a short amount of time. We will quantify
the heterogeneity between youths in micro-temporal dynamics by identifying ‘digital phenotypes,’ an individual-
specific web of links between social and built environmental determinants. The utility of digital phenotypes lies
in their ability to identify overlaps in ILD. This proposed K01 will provide developmental support for Dr. Tyler
Prochnow to: 1) obtain hands-on experience in the application of EMA methods in PA research; 2) train in the
evaluation of the built environment in PA research including geospatial analysis; and 3) develop an
understanding of intensive longitudinal data analysis and digital phenotyping applied to health behavior research.
The results of this proposed K01 p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10885402
- **Project number:** 1K01HL169818-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Tyler Prochnow
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $154,004
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-20 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10885402

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10885402, Identifying the reciprocal associations between the built environment, social networks, and physical activity among youth in the summer (1K01HL169818-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10885402. Licensed CC0.

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