An examination of how changing patterns of school travel mode impact moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among adolescents over time

Abstract

Abstract Background This study examined temporal variations in school travel mode and whether these variations predicted changes in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents (Grades 9 to 12). Methods We analyzed data from Years 1, 2 and 3 of the COMPASS study. Students included in the analysis were those who had provided information on sociodemographic factors, MVPA and school travel modes. A final longitudinal sample included 19,868 participants for the analyses related to travel mode to school (AM period) and 17,678 for the travel mode from school (PM period). The proportion of participants who changed their school travel modes between years was calculated to determine the stability of school travel mode. Linear-mixed models were used to examine whether changes in mode predicted changes in MVPA one year later. These models adjusted for sociodemographic factors as covariates and accounted for the clustering within schools. Results Stability in school travel mode was observed for both time periods. Across data collection waves, only 9.3% consistently used an active transportation mode in the AM period and 15.6% in the PM period. Only 2.5% switched from a passive to active mode in the AM period and 3.1% in the PM period, whereas 3.5% switched from an active to passive mode in the AM period and 5.2% in the PM period. No significant association was observed for the AM period. For the PM period, the decrease in MVPA was significantly greater in adolescents who switched from an active to a passive transportation mode than those who remained using a passive transportation mode across years. Conclusion School travel makes a contribution to the amount of MVPA youth accumulate during the school week although evidence for this was restricted to those shifting from active to passive modes in the afternoon period.