The Neighborhood Quality of Life Study (NQLS), conducted between 2001-2005, was designed to identify environmental correlates of physical activity. This observational study of 2,200 adults aged 20-65 randomly selected from 32 neighborhoods in two regions of the U.S. developed new paradigms and measures for studying built environment associations with health behaviors.
Main Citations:
Sallis, J.F., Saelens, B.E., Frank, L.D., Conway, T.L., Slymen, D.J., Cain, K.L., Chapman, J.E., and Kerr, J. (2009). Neighborhood built environment and income: Examining multiple health outcomes. Social Science and Medicine, 68, 1285-1293. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.01.017
Frank, L.D., Sallis, J.F., Saelens, B.E., Leary, L., Cain, K., Conway, T.L., and Hess, P.M. (2010). The development of a walkability index: Application to the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 43, 124-131. Link
Colleagues at University of Minnesota adopted the NQLS survey for use in the Twin Cities Walking Survey. They also conducted a test-retest reliability study.
Forsyth A, Oakes JM, Schmitz KH. Test–retest reliability of the Twin Cities walking survey. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2009 Jan 1;6(1):119-31. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.6.1.119
Survey of residents to assess the relation between one's neighborhood, quality of life, health, and physical activity.
Follow-up survey, conducted 6 months after the time 1 survey.