Children’s Experiences of Their Journey to School: Integrating Behaviour Change Frameworks to Inform the Role of the Built Environment in Active School Travel Promotion

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a public health problem with multiple effects on children’s life. Promoting Active School Travel (AST) could provide an inclusive opportunity for physical activity and shape healthy behaviours. Data for this cross-sectional study were drawn from questionnaires carried out in five primary schools located in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in neighbourhoods chosen for their variability in IMD (index of multiple deprivation) and spatial structure of street networks (measured through space syntax measure of integration). A randomly selected and heterogenic sample of 145 pupils (aged 9–10) completed an open-ended questionnaire to state what they like and dislike about their journey to school. Thematic analysis identified four typologies (environmental context, emotions, social influences and trip factors) based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and specific themes and sub-themes underlying children’s affective experiences of their journeys to school. This study is the first known to authors to attempt to adapt the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) model into AST and children’s experiences and associated behavioural domains with design aspects. Such an insight into children’s attitudes could inform urban planners and designers about how to apply more effective behaviour change interventions, targeting an AST increase among children.

Spatial intelligence: integration of land use to connectivity in the context of eastern urbanism

“…The study revealed that more physical activities, including motivation for walking and the sense of public health and happiness, were observed in the streets with higher linkage and space syntax indexes with their surrounding texture. Michail et al (2021) used Space Syntax to respond to childhood obesity by promoting Active School Travel (AST) to provide an inclusive opportunity for physical activity and shape healthy behaviours. Case studies were the schools located in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, in neighbourhoods chosen for their variability in index of multiple deprivations (IMD) and spatial structure of street networks (measured through space syntax measure of integration).…”

“…Michail et al. (2021) used Space Syntax to respond to childhood obesity by promoting Active School Travel (AST) to provide an inclusive opportunity for physical activity and shape healthy behaviours.…”

Group Model Building for Developing Systems-Oriented Solutions to Reduce Car Dependency in Belfast, United Kingdom

“…These may also reflect attitudes that will differ from person to person, where people feel differently about the same objective physical environment. This has been shown to be the case in children's travel to school, for example (Michail et al 2021). Although it is understood that there is a link between travel behaviour and subjective assessments of the built environment (especially in relation to risk and travel time), exactly how they interact to influence each other remains unclear (Van Acker et al 2010, Wilkie et al 2019.…”

Enformel Bir Konut Çevresinin Çocukların Aktif Kamusal Katılımı Açısından İncelenmesi

“…Urban areas prior to the intense physical and social transformation of cities due to the globalization effects were the public spaces where children played spontaneously and safely due to both the modest scale of the cities and the neighbourhood culture where socially similar groups lived together. Following this argument, the design of urban environments in such a structure that supports children's walkability (Michail et al, 2021) can also enhance the development of children's urban perceptions of their environments. Michail et al's study (2021) conducted with children aged 9-10 in the UK showed that children who walk to school enjoy physical activities such as playing, jumping and running while walking.…”