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Factors associated with active commuting among a nationally representative sample of Canadian youth

  • Quantitative Research
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Given the link between active commuting and physical activity, this study examined factors associated with active commuting among a nationally representative sample of Canadian youth.

METHODS: Using data from the 2010–11 Youth Smoking Survey, this study examined different forms of commuting (active, inactive, mixed) and factors associated with either mixed or active commuting among grade 6 to 12 students.

RESULTS: Among Canadian youth in 2010–11, only 22.1% reported being an active commuter and only 25.7% reported being a mixed commuter. Students were more likely to commute actively if they were male, in younger grades (grades 6–10), a normal weight, a current smoker, or lived in urban areas.

CONCLUSION: There is substantial opportunity to promote active commuting within the Canadian context since most youth were inactive commuters. Future research should explore the underlying facilitators or barriers to active commuting so that we better understand how best to promote active commuting among the subpopulations of youth (e.g., females, overweight youth, non-smokers, youth in rural areas) who are less likely to commute actively.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS : Étant donné le lien entre les déplacements actifs et l’activité physique, cette étude porte sur les facteurs associés aux déplacements actifs dans un échantillon représentatif national de jeunes Canadiens.

MÉTHODE : À l’aide des données de l’Enquête sur le tabagisme chez les jeunes de 2010–2011, l’étude examine différentes formes de déplacements (actifs, inactifs, mixtes) et les facteurs associés aux déplacements mixtes ou actifs chez les élèves de la 6e à la 12e année.

RÉSULTATS : Chez les jeunes Canadiens en 2010–2011, seulement 22,1 % disaient être des navetteurs actifs et seulement 25,7 % disaient utiliser des modes de transport mixtes. Les élèves étaient plus susceptibles d’être des navetteurs actifs s’ils étaient des garçons, moins avancés dans leur parcours scolaire (6e à 10e année), de poids normal, fumeurs actuels ou vivant en zone urbaine.

CONCLUSION : Il y a d’importantes possibilités de promouvoir les déplacements actifs dans le contexte canadien, car la plupart des jeunes emploient des modes de transport inactifs. Les études futures devraient explorer les éléments sous-jacents qui facilitent ou qui font obstacle aux déplacements actifs pour pouvoir mieux comprendre les meilleurs moyens de promouvoir ce type de déplacements dans les sous-populations de jeunes (p. ex., filles, jeunes en surpoids, non-fumeurs, jeunes en milieu rural) moins susceptibles d’être des navetteurs actifs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Ammar Bookwala BSc

  2. Social and Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, London, ON, Canada

    Tara Elton-Marshall PhD

  3. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 2000 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Scott T. Leatherdale PhD

Authors
  1. Ammar Bookwala BSc
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  2. Tara Elton-Marshall PhD
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  3. Scott T. Leatherdale PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott T. Leatherdale PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The Youth Smoking Survey is a product of the pan-Canadian capacity building project funded through a contribution agreement between Health Canada and the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact from 2004 to 2007 and a contract between Health Canada and the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact from 2008-2011. The YSS consortium includes Canadian tobacco control researchers from all provinces and provided training opportunities for university students at all levels. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. STL is a Chair in Applied Public Health funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Bookwala, A., Elton-Marshall, T. & Leatherdale, S.T. Factors associated with active commuting among a nationally representative sample of Canadian youth. Can J Public Health 105, e348–e353 (2014). https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4139

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/cjph.105.4139

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