Development and validity of Chinese neighborhood health-supportive environmental perceptions scale

Objective: To develop and evaluate Chinese Neighborhood health-supportive environmental perceptions scale and to provide an effective subjective perception measurement tool for Chinese healthy neighborhood planning. Method: The initial scale was developed by literature review and focus group discussion; An intercept convenient sample of 251 residents (21-75 years old) from 16 residential estates were interviewed; The critical ratio method was used to screen the initial scale for items and to divide the dimensions through exploratory factor analysis to form a formal scale. The internal consistent reliability, content validity, and construct validity of the scale were examined. Result: The formal scale contains 22 items in 4 dimensions. The Cronbach'α coefficient of the scale was 0.844, indicating the scale had a good reliability. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the individual dimension and the whole scale ranged from 0.518 to 0.778, which were all above 0.5 (p<0.01), indicating a good content validity. The factor analysis results show that the eigenvalues of the four factors are 5.923 to 1.370; the contributing rate of cumulative sums of squares was 63.430%, indicating a good construct validity. Conclusion: Chinese Neighborhood health-supportive environmental perceptions scale has good reliability and validity in the specific application, and can be used as a effective measurement tool to evaluate the potential of the neighborhood built environment that regulate the likelihood of residents' physical activity.