title: Determinants of uptake and maintenance of active commuting to school.
abstract: The objective was to identify determinants of uptake and maintenance of active school travel (AST) over 4 years in children aged 9 at baseline. Data from wave 1 (n=8502) and 2 (n=7479) of the Growing Up in Ireland study were analysed. At 9- and 13-years 25% and 20% engaged in AST. Children were more likely to maintain or take-up AST if they lived in an urban area. Change in distance to school influenced both maintenance and adoption of AST, with a negative impact seen for increased distance between 9 and 13 years and a positive impact seen for decreased distance. Some factors which predict uptake and maintenance of AST are modifiable and can inform intervention development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Arts Education and Physical Education, Mary Immaculate College University of Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: elaine.murtagh@mic.ul.ie.
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Murtagh
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: m.dempster@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dempster
authors.affiliation: Sport and Exercise Science Research Institute, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK. Electronic address: mh.murphy@ulster.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marie H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Active travel; Child; Commute; Determinant; Physical activity; School