Physical activity and school active transport behaviours of Queensland school children

Abstract

The Queensland Child Health Status survey series monitors behaviours that may threaten the health of children. This study reports on physical activity and active transport behaviours of 5 to 17 year olds. Computer assisted telephone interviewing was used to collect information from 2,484 parents/guardians on 1,292 boys and 1,192 girls (86% response rate) in mid–2011. Physical activity was defined as parents reporting that their child undertook 60 minutes or more physical activity every day in the past week. School transport data was collected for a usual week. Less than half (44%, 95% CI: 41.8–46.2) met the physical activity criterion, with boys being more active than girls (49.1% and 38.5%, respectively). The proportion of children meeting the physical activity criterion decreased with age (5–7 years 62.1%, 95% CI: 57.4–66.5; 8–11 years 52.3%, 95% CI: 48.3–56.3; 12–15 years 32.1%, 95% CI: 28.5–36.0; 16–17 years 26.4%, 95% CI: 21.6–31.8). About half (47.4%) travel to or from school every day by car, and three quarters (73.9%) travel to or from school by car at least once a week. Of children using active transport (overall 29.8%, 95% CI: 27.8–31.9), defined as walking or by bike or scooter (25.1%, 5.4% and 1.7%, respectively) to school, the average number of trips per week was 7.1 (95% CI: 6.8–7.4) with an average weekly duration of 104 minutes (95% CI: 96–111). The per trip average time for walking (16.1 minutes, 95% CI: 15.1–17.1) and cycling (15.8 minutes, 95% CI: 13.5–18) are similar. Trip time and total weekly duration commuting to or from school increased with age (12.6 and 20.6 minutes trip time, 69 and 140 weekly duration among 5–7 years and 16–17 year olds, respectively). Cycling to school is the preserve of boys in the later primary and early secondary years. The percentage of children meeting the physical activity criterion and doing active transport to or from school was significantly greater for 16–17 year olds (44.9%, 95% CI: 33.5–56.8) than 5–7 year olds (24.5%, 95% CI: 19.5–30.4). In logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, active transport was associated with 27% higher odds of meeting physical activity guidelines. When effect measure interactions between age and active transport were investigated, the odds of meeting physical activity guidelines were 2.5 times higher among active-transport-using youth aged 16–17 years compared to those aged 5–7 years. Active school travel may represent an opportunity to increase physical activity levels, particularly in older children.