title: The influence of the built environment on outcomes from a "walking school bus study": a cross-sectional analysis using geographical information systems.
abstract: Active commuting to school increases children's daily physical activity. The built environment is associated with children's physical activity levels in cross-sectional studies. This study examined the role of the built environment on the outcomes of a "walking school bus" study. Geographical information systems was used to map out and compare the built environments around schools participating in a pilot walking school bus randomised controlled trial, as well as along school routes. Multi-level modelling was used to determine the built environment attributes associated with the outcomes of active commuting to school and accelerometer-determined moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MPVA). There were no differences in the surrounding built environments of control (n = 4) and intervention (n = 4) schools participating in the walking school bus study. Among school walking routes, park space was inversely associated with active commuting to school (β = -0.008, SE = 0.004, P = 0.03), while mixed-land use was positively associated with daily MPVA (β = 60.0, SE = 24.3, P = 0.02). There was effect modification such that high traffic volume and high street connectivity were associated with greater moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The results of this study suggest that the built environment may play a role in active school commuting outcomes and daily physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Adolescent Health Research and Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Nicolas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Oreskovic
authors.affiliation: Harvard Center for Geographic Analysis, Cambridge, USA.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blossom
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Adolescent Health Research and Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Center for Child and Adolescent Health Research and Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Minghua L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: Doris K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Uscanga
authors.affiliation: Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*