title: Personal, social and environmental correlates of active transport to school among adolescents in Otago, New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  With increasingly sedentary lifestyles, opportunities for physical activity such as active transport to school need to be promoted in adolescents. This study examines personal, social and environmental correlates of active transport to school among adolescents including sociodemographics, behavioural patterns, motivational factors, perceived barriers, peer support, family resources, school characteristics, urban/rural setting, distance to school and neighbourhood safety perceptions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2009 and 2011, 2018 secondary school students (age: 14.8±1.3 years; 73% urban; 53% boys) from 22 out of 24 schools from Otago, New Zealand completed the Otago School Students Lifestyle Survey. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to compare active transport to school correlates in students using active transport to school versus bus and car users (motorised transport).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 37% of students used active transport to school, 24% bus, and 39% car. Compared to motorised transport users, active transport to school users were more likely to live closer to school (1.4±1.4 active transport to school vs. 8.3±8.4km motorised transport; p<0.001). In a multivariate analysis, shorter distance to school (OR (95%CI) (0.03 (0.01-0.05)), younger age (0.85 (0.78-0.92)), fewer vehicles (0.66 (0.49-0.89)) and fewer screens (0.53 (0.35-0.82)) per household, meeting screen time guidelines (1.74 (1.22-2.50)), opportunity to chat with friends (2.26 (1.58-3.23)), nice scenery (1.69 (1.14-2.50)), and parental perceptions of active transport to school safety (2.32 (1.25-4.30)) were positively associated with active transport to school, while perceived time constraints (0.46 (0.29-0.72)) and attending girls-only school (0.51 (0.35-0.75)) had a negative association with active transport to school.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future active transport to school interventions in adolescents should focus on encouraging active transport to school, reiterating its social benefits, and addressing parental safety concerns around active transport to school.
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand. Electronic address: sandra.mandic@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mandic
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leon de la Barra
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Canada.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García Bengoechea
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Dunedin City Council, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flaherty
authors.affiliation: School of Surveying, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: School of Surveying, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Middlemiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Marketing, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skidmore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009520:New Zealand; D010379:Peer Group; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D012574:Schools; D058992:Social Participation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Active transport; Adolescents; Environment; Physical activity; School; Walking