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Lam HY, Jayasinghe S, Ahuja KDK, Hills AP. Active School Commuting in School Children: A Narrative Review of Current Evidence and Future Research Implications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6929. [PMID: 37887667 PMCID: PMC10606062 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Active school commuting (ASC) has been proposed as a practical way to inculcate positive physical activity habits in children. This paper reviews the current evidence regarding ASC among children, highlights advances in research techniques and existing limitations in the field, and outlines future implications for research and promotion. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify English language studies on ASC among children aged 6-12 years, followed by a narrative review. ASC has witnessed a global decline, despite evidence of its contribution to physical activity levels. Context-dependent factors such as commuting distance and parental safety concerns are consistently identified as key determinants of ASC. Several promising interventions have been identified. Despite the limitations in intervention scope and quality, notable advancements in research techniques, such as multilevel regression and agent-based modelling, have been identified. Effective promotion of ASC to tackle childhood physical inactivity requires collaborative efforts among schools, parents, and the government, and should be tailored to address multilevel determinants within the local context. Future research should leverage recent advancements in research techniques to develop effective promotion strategies, while considering the context-dependent nature of ASC behaviours and addressing existing limitations, including the lack of standardised definitions and limited geographical and age coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Yeung Lam
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia; (S.J.); (K.D.K.A.); (A.P.H.)
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Jussila JJ, Pulakka A, Halonen JI, Salo P, Allaouat S, Mikkonen S, Lanki T. Are active school transport and leisure-time physical activity associated with performance and wellbeing at secondary school? A population-based study. Eur J Public Health 2023; 33:884-890. [PMID: 37487554 PMCID: PMC10567132 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physically active pupils may be better and more resilient learners. However, it is unclear whether walking or cycling to school yields similar educational and school-related mental health benefits as leisure-time physical activity. We examined the associations of active school transport and leisure-time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with perceived academic performance, competency in academic skills, school burnout and school enjoyment. METHODS We included 34 103 Finnish adolescents (mean age 15.4 years; 53% girls) from the 2015 School Health Promotion study cohort. For the analyses, we used logistic regression, adjusting for major sociodemographic, environmental, lifestyle and physical activity covariates. RESULTS Active school transport was positively associated with educational outcomes and school enjoyment, but not with school burnout. For example, compared with non-active transport, 10-30 min of daily active school transport was linked to 30% [odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-1.40] and 17% (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08-1.27) higher odds of high perceived academic performance and high reading competency, respectively. Leisure-time physical activity was robustly associated with all outcomes. For example, compared with the inactive, the most physically active adolescents had 86% higher odds of high perceived academic performance (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.66-2.08), 57% higher odds of high competency in mathematics (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.39-1.77) and 40% lower odds of school burnout (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.52-0.69). CONCLUSIONS Compared with active school transport, leisure-time physical activity was more strongly associated with educational and school-related mental health outcomes. Nevertheless, walking or cycling to school might lead to improvements in classroom performance and school enjoyment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juuso J Jussila
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Pulakka
- Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana I Halonen
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula Salo
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sara Allaouat
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Santtu Mikkonen
- Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Timo Lanki
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Rodrigues A, Antunes H, Alves R, Correia AL, Lopes H, Sabino B, Marques A, Ihle A, Gouveia ÉR. Association between the Duration of the Active Commuting to and from School, and Cognitive Performance in Urban Portuguese Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15692. [PMID: 36497762 PMCID: PMC9735698 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the differences between active commuting to school (ACS) and non-ACS in cognitive performance (CP), and the association of ACS duration with CP. This cross-sectional study included 370 adolescents (males n = 170), with a mean age of 15.28 ± 2.25 years. CP was assessed through an interview, and ACS, extracurricular physical activity, and socioeconomic status was assessed by self-report. Body composition was assessed using the FitnessGram test battery. One in two adolescents did ACS (51.6%). ACS was associated with boys (53.9%), younger adolescents (14.91 ± 2.15 vs. 15.69 ± 2.29), those having school social support (55.0%), and those doing one or more extracurricular physical activities (53.6%), compared to non-ACS participants (p < 0.05). The analysis of covariance, after controlling for age, sex, school social support, and participation in extracurricular physical activity, showed an effect of ACS on the total cognitive score (F(2,362) = 3.304, p < 0.05). The CP was higher in adolescents with more than 30 min of ACS than non-ACS (p < 0.05). The influence of ACS duration can be seen in the dimensions of inductive reasoning (ß = 0.134, t = 2.587, p < 0.05) and working memory (ß = 0.130, t = 2.525, p < 0.05). The role of ACS for CP, as well as guidelines for future research, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rodrigues
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Hélio Antunes
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Alves
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Correia
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
| | - Helder Lopes
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development (CIDESD), 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Bebiana Sabino
- Higher School of Education, Polytechnic Institute of Beja, 7800-295 Beja, Portugal
| | - Adilson Marques
- Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
- Environmental Health Institute (ISAMB), Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-020 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andreas Ihle
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES—Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Élvio Rúbio Gouveia
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Madeira, 9000-082 Funchal, Portugal
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSYS), Interactive Technologies Institute, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
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Patterns of Active Commuting to School in Spanish Preschool Children and Its Associations with Socio-Economic Factors: The PREFIT Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111180. [PMID: 34769699 PMCID: PMC8583248 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to describe patterns of active commuting to school (ACS) of preschool children, and to analyse the relationship between ACS and family socio-economic factors. A total of 2636 families of preschoolers (3-to-5 years old) were asked to complete a questionnaire at home about the mode of commuting to school of their children and marital status, educational level, and profession of both father and mother. Chi-square analyses were applied to compare ACS between school grades and gender of the children. To analyse the association of ACS with socio-economic factors, logistic regression analyses were performed. Almost 50% of participants reported ACS of their offspring, with a higher rate in 3rd preprimary grade (5 years old) than in 1st and 2nd preprimary grades (3- and 4-years old. All, p < 0.05). Those preschool children who had parents with lower educational level and no managerial work had higher odds to ACS than those who had parents with higher educational level and managerial work (all, p ≤ 0.001). Around half of the Spanish preschool children included in this study commuted actively to school and families with lower educational levels or worse employment situation were related to active commuting to school.
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Are the Parents' and Their Children's Physical Activity and Mode of Commuting Associated? Analysis by Gender and Age Group. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17186864. [PMID: 32962197 PMCID: PMC7558568 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: Some studies have reported a positive parent–child association between physical activity (PA), but few have examined the difference in these associations concerning both genders. The objective of this study was to establish the association between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and mode of commuting (MC) of the parents with their children by gender and age group. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 686 mothers and fathers (43.4 ± 6.5 years old) and their children (children 9.7 ± 1.7 y. and adolescents 14.0 ± 1.7 y.). Each participant completed a questionnaire on PA and MC. Chi-square test, odds ratio for categorical variables, and lineal regressions for continuous variables were used to examine the parent–child associations. Results: An inverse association was found between fathers–children in the weekend MVPA in children and between mothers–adolescents in out-of-school and weekend MVPA. An inverse association was found in MVPA between mothers-girls, and the different parents’ MC to work was positively associated with the MC to school in children and adolescents except for the association AC parents–adolescents. The AC was mainly associated between mothers and girls and boys. Conclusions: A weak association in parent–child MVPA but a strong association in MC between parent–child was found.
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Sánchez Miguel PA, Sánchez Oliva D, Vaquero Solís M, Pulido JJ, Tapia Serrano MA. Relationship between the average slope in the active commuting to and from school and fitness in adolescents: the mediator role of fatness. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8824. [PMID: 32551189 PMCID: PMC7292016 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Active commuting to and from school (ACS) has been recognized as a potential tool to improve physical fitness. Thus, this study aims to test the relationships between the average slope in the ACS and physical fitness, as well as to verify the mediator role of fatness in the relationship between average slope and physical fitness. A total of 257 participants, 137 boys and 120 girls, from 22 schools belonged to first and second High School grades participated in this study. Based on self-reported measure and Google Earth, participants were grouped into the active commuter (number of trips was ≥5, and the time of the trip was ≥15 min), mixed commuter (number of weekly trips was <5, and the time spent on the trip was <15 min) and passive commuter groups (those who reported traveling regularly by car, motorcycle, or bus). Specifically, in the active commuter group, a positive association between the average slope in the ACS with fatness was found, which in turn was positively related to strength lower limbs and cardiorrespiratory fitness. The average slope was not significantly associated with physical fitness indicators. Furtheremore, fatness did not mediate the relathionship between average slope and physical fitness. This research concluded positive associations between average slope and the body fat in the ACS. The tendency of findings signal that the average slope should be taken into account along with the distance, time and frequency of the active commuting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Antonio Sánchez Miguel
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Body Expression. Faculty of Teaching Training, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - David Sánchez Oliva
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Body Expression. Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Mikel Vaquero Solís
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Body Expression. Faculty of Teaching Training, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J J Pulido
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Body Expression. Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Tapia Serrano
- Department of Didactics of Musical, Plastic and Body Expression. Faculty of Teaching Training, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
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Phansikar M, Ashrafi SA, Khan NA, Massey WV, Mullen SP. Active Commute in Relation to Cognition and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Future Recommendations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16245103. [PMID: 31847267 PMCID: PMC6950697 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16245103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Active commuting to school (ACS) is an important source of physical activity among children. Recent research has focused on ACS and its benefits on cognition and academic achievement (AA), factors important for success in school. This review aims to synthesize literature on the relationship between ACS and cognition or AA among children and adolescents. Peer-reviewed articles in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO and Cochrane Library assessing ACS with cognition and/or AA among children, until February 2019, were selected. Twelve studies across nine countries (age range 4–18.5 years) were included. One study used accelerometers, whereas all others used self-report measures of ACS. A wide range of objective assessments of cognitive functioning and AA domains were used. Five among eight studies, and four among six found a positive relationship between ACS and cognitive or AA measure, respectively. Four studies found dose–response relationships, and some studies found sex differences. The quantitative analysis found that ACS was not significantly associated with mathematics score (odds ratio = 1.18; CI = 0.40, 3.48). Findings are discussed in terms of methodological issues, potential confounders, and the strength of the evidence. Future studies should conduct longitudinal studies and use objective measures of ACS to understand this relationship further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhura Phansikar
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; (M.P.); (S.A.A.); (N.A.K.)
| | - Sadia Anjum Ashrafi
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; (M.P.); (S.A.A.); (N.A.K.)
| | - Naiman A. Khan
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; (M.P.); (S.A.A.); (N.A.K.)
| | - William V. Massey
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA;
| | - Sean P. Mullen
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA; (M.P.); (S.A.A.); (N.A.K.)
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Illinois Informatics Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-217-244-4502
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Ruiz-Hermosa A, Álvarez-Bueno C, Cavero-Redondo I, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Redondo-Tébar A, Sánchez-López M. Active Commuting to and from School, Cognitive Performance, and Academic Achievement in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16101839. [PMID: 31126148 PMCID: PMC6571885 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16101839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the brain's development process and cognitive function. However, no review to date has evaluated the effects of active commuting to and from school (ACS) on cognitive performance and academic achievement. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the link between ACS and cognitive performance and academic achievement in children and adolescents. METHODS We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases for all observational studies published until May 2019 that examined the association between ACS and cognitive performance or academic achievement. Studies were classified into two groups according to their measured outcomes: cognitive performance (nonexecutive cognitive functions, core executive functions, and metacognition) and academic achievement (marks of different areas). A pooled effect size (ES) was estimated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects method for cognitive performance and each area of academic achievement. RESULTS Twelve studies that evaluated the relationship between ACS and cognitive performance or academic achievement were included in the systematic review: four studies analyzed both cognitive performance and academic achievement, one study provided data regarding cognitive performance and seven provided data on academic achievement. Finally, nine of 12 studies provided enough data for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Our findings suggest that ACS was not significantly associated with cognitive performance (ES= -0.02; 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.03) or academic achievement (ES= -0.33; 95% CI: -0.83 to 0.17 for mathematics-related skills; ES= -0.37; 95% CI: -0.88 to 0.15 for language-related skills). CONCLUSIONS There was insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between ACS and cognitive performance and academic achievement. Future studies should include potential confounders in their analyses and consider the use of standardized self-reports or objective measures of ACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Ruiz-Hermosa
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, School of Education, Ronda de Calatrava, 3, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Celia Álvarez-Bueno
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
| | - Iván Cavero-Redondo
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
| | - Vicente Martínez-Vizcaíno
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
- Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Av. Pedro de Valdivia 425 (Sede Santiago), Providencia, Chile.
| | - Andrés Redondo-Tébar
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
| | - Mairena Sánchez-López
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Social and Health Care Research Center, c/ Santa Teresa Jornet, s/n, 16071 Cuenca, Spain.
- Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, School of Education, Ronda de Calatrava, 3, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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