Measurement of perceived school climate for active travel in children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the development of an original scale that measures perceived school climate for active travel in fourth- and fifth-grade girls and boys.


METHODS
The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to provide evidence of factorial validity, factorial invariance, and construct validity.


RESULTS
The CFA supported the fit of a 3-factor (encouragement, praise, and importance) correlated model for the school climate for active travel measure. This hierarchical model was invariant between sex and across a 7-month time period, and initial evidence for construct validity was provided.


CONCLUSIONS
School climate for active travel is a measurable construct, and preliminary evidence suggests relationships with more support for active travel from friends and family.
Evenson
Kelly R
KR
UNC Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. kelly_evenson@unc.edu
Motl
Robert W
RW
Birnbaum
Amanda S
AS
Ward
Dianne S
DS
D001290:Attitude; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009657:North Carolina; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*