Modes of commuting to school among 5th and 6th grade schoolchildren

Abstract Active commuting (walking/cycling) is seen as a strategy to promote active behaviors in children’s daily school life. This study aimed to analyze the modes of commuting and perceptions of children in relation to the possibility of active commuting to school according to sex. Overall, 101 students (M=11.39/SD=1.22) enrolled in the 5th and 6th grades from two public elementary schools in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, participated in this study. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to students. The results showed that 21.8% of respondents had active commuting (19.8% on foot / 2% bicycle), without statistically significant differences; however, boys were more predisposed to walking and cycling in relation to girls. As positive justifications, respondents evidenced the ‘home-school proximity’ and ‘fun/pleasure’ provided during the journey, and ‘distance’ and ‘traffic / insecurity’ as barriers to the possibility of walking or cycling to school.

摘要：主动通勤（active commuting，步行/骑行）被视作推动儿童日常校园生活中主动行为养成的策略。本研究旨在针对性别差异，分析儿童的通勤方式及其对主动通勤上学的认知态度。本研究共纳入巴西马拉尼昂州两所公立小学五、六年级学生共101名，年龄均值为11.39岁，标准差为1.22。研究通过面向学生发放问卷的方式收集数据。结果显示，21.8%的受访者采用主动通勤方式（其中步行占19.8%、骑行占2%），不同通勤方式间无统计学显著差异；但相较于女生，男生更倾向于选择步行或骑行通勤。受访者提及的积极动因包括“家校间距近”与“通勤途中的乐趣”，而“路程距离”与“交通状况/安全隐患”则成为步行或骑行上学的阻碍因素。