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Children’s travel to school: satisfaction, current mood, and cognitive performance

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica Westman

    (Karlstad University)

  • Lars E. Olsson

    (Karlstad University)

  • Tommy Gärling

    (University of Gothenburg)

  • Margareta Friman

    (Karlstad University)

Abstract

We investigate whether travel mode, travel time, and activities during travel influence children’s satisfaction with their travel to school, their current mood, and their cognitive performance after arriving at school. A sample of 344 children (165 girls) between the ages of 10 and 15 years were recruited at five public schools in Värmland County, Sweden. Directly after arriving at school, the children rated how they felt on two scales ranging from very sad to very happy and from very tired to very alert, filled out the Satisfaction with Travel Scale adapted for children (STS-C), reported details about their journeys, and took a word-fluency test. The results for STS-C showed that traveling by school bus and walking or cycling was experienced as having a higher quality than traveling by car. Children who engaged in conversation during their journeys reported a higher quality and more positive feelings than children who were engaged in solitary activities during their journeys. A shorter journey was experienced as having a higher quality and resulting in more positive feelings. Children traveling for longer durations performed better in the word-fluency test if using their smartphones or doing a combination of activities during their journeys.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica Westman & Lars E. Olsson & Tommy Gärling & Margareta Friman, 2017. "Children’s travel to school: satisfaction, current mood, and cognitive performance," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1365-1382, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:transp:v:44:y:2017:i:6:d:10.1007_s11116-016-9705-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11116-016-9705-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao & Chinnakrit Banyong & Supanida Nanthawong & Thananya Janhuaton & Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha & Thanapong Champahom & Pornsiri Jongkol, 2022. "Perceptions of Parents of the Quality of the Public Transport Services Used by Children to Commute to School," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    3. 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.
    4. Lades, Leonhard K. & Kelly, Andrew & Kelleher, Luke, 2020. "Why is active travel more satisfying than motorized travel? Evidence from Dublin," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 318-333.
    5. Madhura Phansikar & Sadia Anjum Ashrafi & Naiman A. Khan & William V. Massey & Sean P. Mullen, 2019. "Active Commute in Relation to Cognition and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Future Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-27, December.
    6. Motta Queiroz, Mariza & Roque, Carlos & Moura, Filipe & Marôco, João, 2024. "Understanding the expectations of parents regarding their children's school commuting by public transport using latent Dirichlet Allocation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    7. Patrick A. Singleton & Kelly J. Clifton, 2021. "Towards measures of affective and eudaimonic subjective well-being in the travel domain," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 303-336, February.
    8. Khaleghi, Marjan & Kato, Hirokazu, 2023. "Children’s non-school trips, travel-related subjective well-being, and life satisfaction: Evidence from young adolescents in rural Japan," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).

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