Adilson Marques1, Miguel Peralta2, Hugo Sarmento3, João Martins4, Francisco Carreiro da Costa5

1University of Lisbon, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Lisbon, Portugal
2University of Lisbon, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Lisbon, Portugal
3Centre for the Study of Education, Technologies and Health, CI&DETS, School of Education – Polytechnic of Viseu, Viseu, Portugal; University Institute of Maia, Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD, ISMAI, Portugal
4University of Lisbon, Pedagogy Laboratory, Faculty of Human Kinetics and Investigation and Development in Education and Formation Unity, Institute of Education, Lisbon, Portugal; Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lisbon, Portugal
5University of Lisbon, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, Lisbon, Portugal; Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lisbon, Portugal

Socioeconomic, Personal and Behavioral Correlates of Active Commuting among Adolescents

Monten. J. Sports Sci. Med. 2016, 5(1), 29-34

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the relationships between commuting to and from school (active vs. passive) and their explanatory variables. A total of 2653 adolescents (1361 boys, 1292 girls; M age=13.4±2.6) participated in this study. The students were questioned about commuting to and from school, physical activity and school sports participation and perceptions of competence and health. Socioeconomic status and body mass index were calculated. Results show that a minority of the students use active transportation to and from school. Also, age increasing, participation in school sports and increasing duration were positively correlated with active commuting for both routes (to and from school). Given that active commuting may be a simple and effective way to increase physical activity level among youth populations, it is important to promote, improve conditions and create strategies in order to increase the number of students that actively commute to and from school.

Keywords

Active commuting, passive commuting, students, correlates



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