Active commuting of adolescents to school: barriers according to gender, socioeconomic status and area of residence

Abstract

This study analysed the barriers to active commuting to school among adolescents according to gender, residential area, and socioeconomic status. The variables were collected through questionnaires (Neighborhood Impact on Kids and Associação Brasileira de Empresas de Pesquisa). A total of 1,431 students aged between 12 and 17 participated. The dichotomized categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of p< .05. The main reported barriers to active commuting were: in the urban area: “the weather is very hot, and I sweat a lot” and “there is a lot of traffic”; in the rural area: “there are no sidewalks or bike paths” and “the school is far away”; urban area girls: “the school is far away” and “there is a lot of traffic”; rural area girls: “the route was tiring”; rural area boys: “the route was not well-lit”; socioeconomic status: low socioeconomic status students from urban area and rural area reported “the school is far away”. The main barriers to active commuting relate to hot weather, distant schools, traffic, and built environment, mainly impacting students with low socioeconomic status from both residential areas, requiring decision-making by policymakers to facilitate active commuting for adolescents.