title: Health-related factors associated with mode of travel to work.
abstract: Active commuting (AC) to the workplace is a potential strategy for incorporating physical activity into daily life and is associated with health benefits. This study examined the association between health-related factors and mode of travel to the workplace. Methods. A volunteer convenience sample of employed adults completed an online survey regarding demographics, health-related factors, and the number of times/week walking, biking, driving, and using public transit to work (dichotomized as no walk/bike/drive/PT and walk/bike/drive/PT 1 + x/week). Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of each mode of transport and meeting PA recommendations from AC according to demographics and health-related factors. Results. The sample (n = 1175) was aged 43.5 ± 11.4 years and was primarily White (92.7%) and female (67.9%). Respondents reported walking (7.3%), biking (14.4%), taking public transit (20.3%), and driving (78.3%) to work at least one time/week. Among those reporting AC, 9.6% met PA recommendations from AC alone. Mode of travel to work was associated with several demographic and health-related factors, including age, number of chronic diseases, weight status, and AC beliefs. Discussion. Mode of transportation to the workplace and health-related factors such as disease or weight status should be considered in future interventions targeting AC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 268R Recreation Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA. mjb73@psu.edu
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bopp
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kaczynski
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace