Abstract
To understand children’s experiences of their daily travel, and the consequences of these experiences, it is essential that we directly address children. The Satisfaction with Travel Scale (STS) is a self-report instrument consisting of nine items divided into three subscales – two reflecting affective travel experiences and one reflecting cognitive travel experiences. The present study has two aims: (i) to examine the psychometric properties of a child version of the STS (referred to as the STS-C), and (ii) to test a potentially positive relationship between travel satisfaction and life satisfaction among children, something which has been found among adults. Three hundred and forty-five children completed the STS-C, life satisfaction scales, and sociodemographic variables. Analyses using Partial Least Square structural equation modelling revealed that the STS-C was internally reliable, had a sound construct validity, and confirmed a one-factor second-order measurement model with three first-order constructs (subscales). Furthermore, children’s satisfaction with school travel was also significantly related to their life satisfaction as measured by their satisfaction with: themselves, school experiences, friendships, family, and living environment. The relationship between travel satisfaction and life satisfaction varied between modes, whereby it was stronger among those who traveled by active modes than those who traveled by school bus or car. Younger children and boys were more satisfied with their travel to school, something which also had an indirect effect on their life satisfaction.
Highlights
Children’s travel experiences have been investigated by scholars in diverse areas, e.g. urban studies, transportation, tourism, psychology, and public health
One contribution made by this study is to obtain specific input from children’s cognitive and affective school travel experiences using any type of travel mode and a standardized measure
The results revealed that there was a stronger relationship between the Satisfaction with Travel Scale (STS)-C and life satisfaction in those traveling by active mode compared to those traveling by car and school bus
Summary
Children’s travel experiences have been investigated by scholars in diverse areas, e.g. urban studies, transportation, tourism, psychology, and public health. Children further highlighted the enjoyment of experiencing nature Another area of research focuses on social interactions during travel (e.g., Goodman et al 2014; Waygood et al 2017), showing the importance of friends for experiencing the journey positively; when interviewed, 9-year-old children said that if a friend joined them in the car they would enjoy the journey (Barker 2009). Westman et al (2013, 2016) showed how children rated car travel as having a lower travel quality than active modes while the school bus was experienced as working very well and being of a high standard. One contribution made by this study is to obtain specific input from children’s cognitive and affective school travel experiences using any type of travel mode and a standardized measure
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