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. 2017 Nov 2;14(11):1334.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111334.

Impact of Distance on Mode of Active Commuting in Chilean Children and Adolescents

Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez  1 , Carlos Cristi-Montero  2 , Carlos Celis-Morales  3   4 , Danica Escobar-Gómez  5 , Palma Chillón  6
Affiliations

Impact of Distance on Mode of Active Commuting in Chilean Children and Adolescents

Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Active commuting could contribute to increasing physical activity. The objective of this study was to characterise patterns of active commuting to and from schools in children and adolescents in Chile. A total of 453 Chilean children and adolescents aged between 10 and 18 years were included in this study. Data regarding modes of commuting and commuting distance was collected using a validated questionnaire. Commuting mode was classified as active commuting (walking and/or cycling) or non-active commuting (car, motorcycle and/or bus). Commuting distance expressed in kilometres was categorised into six subgroups (0 to 0.5, 0.6 to 1, 1.1 to 2, 2.1 to 3, 3.1 to 5 and >5 km). Car commuting was the main mode for children (to school 64.9%; from school 51.2%) and adolescents (to school 50.2%; from school 24.7%). Whereas public bus commuting was the main transport used by adolescents to return from school. Only 11.0% and 24.8% of children and adolescents, respectively, walk to school. The proportion of children and adolescents who engage in active commuting was lower in those covering longer distances compared to a short distance. Adolescents walked to and from school more frequently than children. These findings show that non-active commuting was the most common mode of transport and that journey distances may influence commuting modes in children and adolescents.

Keywords: active transport; adolescent; physical activity; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of the modes of commuting to and from school, in children (A) and adolescents (B). * p < 0.05 value between “To school” and “From school” in children and adolescents by car and walking.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distances from home to school according to active or non-active modes of commuting in children (A) and adolescents (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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