Individual and social factors associated with active commuting to school in 4-6 years old Spanish children

ABSTRACT

To examine the prevalence of active commuting to school (ACS) in 4 to 6 year old children and individual and social factors associated with it. Cross-sectional study including 1,159 children from Cuenca and Ciudad Real (Castilla-La Mancha, Spain). ACS, population area, and socioeconomic status (SES) were self-reported by parents. Body mass index and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were measured using standard procedures. Binary logistic regression models were used to assess the strength of association between the mode of commuting (ACS/no-ACS) and individual (weight status and CRF) and social (population area and SES) factors. Forty-six percent of the children ACS. The probability of ACS was greater in boys and girls from families of low/medium-low SES and in girls who lived in urban areas. ACS was not associated with weight status and CRF. Effective interventions need to be promoted, especially in children from families of high SES and those living in rural areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Active transportation
• physical activity
• social factors
• cardiorespiratory fitness
• weight status

Acknowledgments

We thank all schools, families and pupils for their enthusiastic participation in the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Ethical approval

The study protocols were approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the ‘Virgen de la Luz’ Hospital in Cuenca.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-Carlos III Health Institute and FEDER funds (FIS PI12/02400 and FIS PI12/00761). Additional funding was obtained from the Research Network on Preventative Activities and Health Promotion (Ref. - RD12/0005/0009). ARH is supported by a grant from the Regional government of Castilla-La Mancha (3A2400/NL38532).