A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study of Travel by Walking Before and After School Among Eighth-Grade Girls

Abstract

Purpose To examine “travel by walking” (TBW) before and after school among eighth grade girls. Methods Participants attended 36 middle schools from Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, New Orleans, California and South Carolina participating in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). The cross-sectional sample consisted of 3,076 eighth grade girls, and the longitudinal sample included 1,017 girls who participated in both 6th and 8th grades. Travel by walking before or after school status was determined from the 3-Day Physical Activity Recall (3DPAR). The main outcomes were body mass index (BMI) and physical activity, which was measured by accelerometry, estimated for total physical activity (light, moderate, vigorous) and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Results Eighth grade girls who reported TBW had 4 more minutes (95% confidence interval ([CI], 2.1–6.1.) of MVPA before and after school than non-walkers, and 2 more minutes of MVPA (95% CI, 1.1–3.1) on an average weekday. In the longitudinal sample, girls who reported TBW before and after school in both 6th and 8th grades (consistent walkers) accumulated more minutes of MVPA for an average weekday than inconsistent walkers in both sixth (27 min.±2.2 vs. 25 min.±1.9; p=.03) and eighth grades (28 min.±2.6 vs. 25 min.±2.3; p=.003). There were no differences in BMI by walking status. Conclusions Adolescent girls who reported TBW before and after school accumulated more minutes of MVPA than non-walkers. Efforts to prevent the decline in walking to school in middle school girls could contribute to their overall physical activity.

A Scoping Review of Observational Studies Examining Relationships between Environmental Behaviors and Health Behaviors

“…The vast majority of studies used cross-sectional analyses—only six studies out of 92 (6.5%) reported results from longitudinal or pre/post analysis to examine associations between active travel and physical activity [ 29 , 41 , 81 , 99 , 102 , 109 ]. Just over half of the studies (n = 48) used objective measures (e.g., accelerometer, pedometer) to assess physical activity (see supplementary Table S1 ).…”

“…The 19 studies on active travel and sedentary behaviors were carried out in a range of countries: USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands. Six studies were on adults [ 33 , 54 , 112 , 118 , 119 , 120 ], and 13 on children aged between 5 to 18 years old [ 32 , 52 , 67 , 70 , 74 , 79 , 88 , 92 , 96 , 102 , 115 , 121 , 122 ].…”

“…Sedentary time was objectively measured by accelerometer in only four of the studies [ 70 , 88 , 92 , 102 ], and these all related to children. In the majority of the studies, individuals were asked to self-report the number of hours they spent watching TV, using the computer or gaming.…”

“…Active travel was self-reported in all the studies, and distance travelled was measured objectively in one study [ 74 ]. Only one study used longitudinal analyses [ 102 ].…”

Quantitative physical activity assessment of children and adolescents in a rural population from Eastern Nepal

“…Active transport is linked to greater levels of MVPA in a number of populations (Larouche et al, ; Saksvig et al, ). Specifically, modest increases in physical activity have been associated with children walking to/from school in most Western contexts (Abbott et al, ; Gorely et al, ; Lubans et al, ).…”