Potential correlates and outcomes of active commuting to school among adolescents

João Martins; James F Sallis; Adilson Marques; José Diniz; Francisco Carreiro da Costa

doi:10.6063/motricidade.9565

Potential correlates and outcomes of active commuting to school among adolescents

Authors

João Martins Laboratório de Pedagogia, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana e UIDEF, Instituto de Educação, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
James F Sallis Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
Adilson Marques Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
José Diniz Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Francisco Carreiro da Costa Centro Interdisciplinar de Estudo da Performance Humana, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal Faculdade de Educação Física e Desporto, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.9565

Abstract

The present study analysed the prevalence, potential correlates and physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and academic performance outcomes, of active commuting to and from school (ACS), considering the home-to-school distance. A total of 391 Portuguese adolescents (189 boys, aged 14-18 years) completed a questionnaire about their active and passive commuting behaviours; potential correlates and perceived barriers of ACS; PA, BMI and academic performance. Multinomial regressions analyses were performed for ‘no walk/cycle’, ‘one-way commuters’ and for ‘both-ways commuters’ living near (<2 miles) school. The prevalence of one-way and both-ways active commuters decreased as the distance to school increased to more than two miles (66.5% to 23.5%). For the ‘near group’, walking to (47.8%) and from (55.5%) school was much more common than cycling (< 1%). The barrier with the greatest effect for one-way and both-ways active commuters was ‘distance’, followed by ‘stuff to carry’, ‘don’t enjoy walking/cycling’. No significant relations were found between walking or cycling one-way or both-ways and total PA, BMI and academic performance. To increase ACS, results suggest interventions promoting bicycling use and addressing multiple perceived barriers, such as ‘PA and ACS attitudes’, ‘stuff to carry’, perceptions of ‘hot and sweaty’ and ‘distance’.

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Published

2017-05-03

How to Cite

Martins, J., Sallis, J. F., Marques, A., Diniz, J., & Carreiro da Costa, F. (2017). Potential correlates and outcomes of active commuting to school among adolescents. Motricidade, 12(4), 62–72. https://doi.org/10.6063/motricidade.9565

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Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2016)

Section

Original Article

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