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ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description
October 17–19, 2026
The Embassy Suites, Brea, California
2026 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 17–19, 2026 | Brea, CA
The following is the Session Descriptions for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. All sessions, times, and presenter information have been confirmed, though final adjustments may occur due to unforeseen circumstances onsite.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
For information on our On Demand Conference offerings, please visit: ATRA SoCal On Demand
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending fr all sessions for CEUs.
Once the program is pre-approved; For questions related to specialty certification areas, please refer to the PDF version of the program for designation icons and CEU-eligible sessions.
Code of Conduct:
All attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests are expected to uphold the ATRA Conference Code of Conduct.
To review the Code, view it here.
Note on Non-ATRA Activities:
Please note that any events or activities not listed in the official ATRA SoCal program are independently organized and not affiliated or sponsored by ATRA. ATRA is not responsible for independently coordinated events, meetups or activities not articulated in this program. Individuals interested in non-ATRA sponsored activities should contact their respective organizations directly for details.
Modeling Built Environment and Psychosocial Pathways to Well-Being: A Structural Equation Analysis
Session Description
This study investigates the impact of neighborhood environments on psychosocial well-being, utilizing data from a 2025 population-based survey of adults in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area (n = 800). This research, informed by ecological systems theory, employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess both direct and indirect relationships between built environment attributes (such as walkability, safety, and recreational access) and well-being outcomes. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) exhibited outstanding model fit (CFI = .973, RMSEA = .049), corroborating the validity of essential constructs. The structural model results demonstrated that the built environment significantly predicted neighborhood cohesion (β = .676) and was directly correlated with psychosocial well-being (β = .343). Social support showed a robust correlation with well-being, whereas neighborhood cohesion had a rather weak effect, and physical activity had a minimal effect. Mediation analyses demonstrated that the relationship between the built environment and well-being was not significantly explained by social and behavioral pathways, contrary to expectations. Rather, the results indicate that environmental conditions directly affect psychosocial well-being. Moderation analysis further demonstrated that the relationship was not significantly affected by disability status, despite the possibility that statistical power was diminished by sample size constraints. These results underscore the significance of environmental context in the development of well-being and challenge the notion that behavioral pathways are the primary mechanisms of influence. The necessity of prioritizing environment-centered approaches that improve accessibility, safety, and opportunities for engagement across diverse populations is underscored by the implications for recreational therapy.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe how structural equation modeling (SEM) can be used to examine environmental influences on psychosocial well-being. 2. Interpret direct, indirect, and non-significant mediation pathways in SEM results. 3. Apply findings to inform environment-centered recreational therapy practice and program design.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
All
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://8ca84662c5b8f0cff50d-4baaaf97d63fd7b01243e1b1c57f0cc1.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/3074/profile_d282687757c7039082e54d9189238317.png "Christina J Coleman, PhD, CTRS, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse")
Christina J Coleman, PhD, CTRS, University of Wisconsin- La Crosse
Biographical Information
Dr. Coleman’s research focuses on inclusive leisure, built environments, and psychosocial well-being, with an emphasis on disability and community-based health outcomes. Her work integrates ecological frameworks and advanced quantitative methods to inform recreational therapy practice and population health.