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12-Year Trends in Active School Transport across Four European Countries—Findings from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study

Author

Listed:
  • Ellen Haug

    (Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
    Department of Teacher Education, NLA University College, 5012 Bergen, Norway)

  • Otto Robert Frans Smith

    (Department of Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway)

  • Jens Bucksch

    (Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Faculty of Natural and Human Sciences, Heidelberg University of Education, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Catherina Brindley

    (Department of Prevention and Health Promotion, Faculty of Natural and Human Sciences, Heidelberg University of Education, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany)

  • Jan Pavelka

    (Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Zdenek Hamrik

    (Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

  • Joanna Inchley

    (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G37 HR, UK)

  • Chris Roberts

    (Social Research and Information Devision, Welsh Government, Cardiff CF10 3NQ, UK)

  • Frida Kathrine Sofie Mathisen

    (Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway)

  • Dagmar Sigmundová

    (Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Active school transport (AST) is a source of daily physical activity uptake. However, AST seems to have decreased worldwide over recent decades. We aimed to examine recent trends in AST and associations with gender, age, family affluence, and time to school, using data from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study collected in 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 in the Czech Republic, Norway, Scotland, and Wales. Data from 88,212 students (11, 13 and 15 years old) revealed stable patterns of AST from 2006 to 2018, apart from a decrease in the Czech Republic between 2006 and 2010. For survey waves combined, walking to and from school was most common in the Czech Republic (55%) and least common in Wales (30%). Cycling was only common in Norway (22%). AST differed by gender (Scotland and Wales), by age (Norway), and by family affluence (everywhere but Norway). In the Czech Republic, family affluence was associated with change over time in AST, and the effect of travel time on AST was stronger. The findings indicate that the decrease in AST could be levelling off in the countries considered here. Differential associations with sociodemographic factors and travel time should be considered in the development of strategies for AST.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellen Haug & Otto Robert Frans Smith & Jens Bucksch & Catherina Brindley & Jan Pavelka & Zdenek Hamrik & Joanna Inchley & Chris Roberts & Frida Kathrine Sofie Mathisen & Dagmar Sigmundová, 2021. "12-Year Trends in Active School Transport across Four European Countries—Findings from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2118-:d:503580
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    References listed on IDEAS

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