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Active Transport to School May Reduce Psychosomatic Symptoms in School-Aged Children: Data from Nine Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Dorota Kleszczewska

    (Institute of Mother and Child Foundation, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Joanna Mazur

    (Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
    Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Jens Bucksch

    (Department of Natural and Sociological Sciences, Heidelberg University of Education, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Anna Dzielska

    (Department of Child and Adolescent Health, Institute of Mother and Child, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Catherina Brindley

    (Department of Natural and Sociological Sciences, Heidelberg University of Education, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Agnieszka Michalska

    (Department of Biomedical Foundations of Development and Sexology, Faculty of Education, University of Warsaw, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

It is widely proven that being physically active and avoiding sedentary behaviour help to improve adolescents’ well-being and keep them in better health in general. We aimed to investigate the relationship between modes of transport to school and subjective complaints among schoolchildren. Analyses were based on the HBSC (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) surveys conducted in 2017/18 in nine countries (N = 55,607; mean age 13.43 ± 1.64 yrs.). The main outcome showed that health complaints consisted of somatic and psychological complaints. Transport to school was characterized by mode of getting there (walking, biking, or another passive mode). A total of 46.1% of students walked and 7.3% cycled to school; 46.6% commuted by passive means. Biking to school was more frequent in Denmark (37.9%), Norway (26.5%), and Germany (26.6%). The multivariate generalized linear model adjusted for age, gender, country, and school proximity showed that biking to school is protective against reports of health complaints. The beta parameters were equal to −0.498 ( p < 0.001) for the general HBSC-SCL index, −0.208 ( p < 0.001) for the somatic complaint index, and −0.285 ( p < 0.001) for the psychological complaints index. Young people who actively commute to school are less likely to report health complaints, especially psychological symptoms.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorota Kleszczewska & Joanna Mazur & Jens Bucksch & Anna Dzielska & Catherina Brindley & Agnieszka Michalska, 2020. "Active Transport to School May Reduce Psychosomatic Symptoms in School-Aged Children: Data from Nine Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8709-:d:449953
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Joachim Bachner & Xavier García-Massó & Isabel Castillo & Filip Mess & Javier Molina-García, 2022. "Do Active Commuters Feel More Competent and Vital? A Self-Organizing Maps Analysis in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Myung Ja Kim & C. Michael Hall, 2022. "Application of EMGB to Study Impacts of Public Green Space on Active Transport Behavior: Evidence from South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-27, June.
    4. Pengxiang Ding & Suwei Feng, 2022. "How School Travel Affects Children’s Psychological Well-Being and Academic Achievement in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Mukhlis Nahriri Bastam & Muhamad Razuhanafi Mat Yazid & Muhamad Nazri Borhan, 2022. "An Active School Transport Instrument to Measure Parental Intentions: The Case of Indonesia," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(20), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Ana Rodrigues & Hélio Antunes & Ricardo Alves & Ana Luísa Correia & Helder Lopes & Bebiana Sabino & Adilson Marques & Andreas Ihle & Élvio Rúbio Gouveia, 2022. "Association between the Duration of the Active Commuting to and from School, and Cognitive Performance in Urban Portuguese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-10, November.

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