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Family factors influence active commuting to school in Spanish children

Abstract:

Background: Active commuting to school is associated to higher levels of physical activity among children. Family factors may influence on this behaviour. Objective: The objective was to analyze the association between parents' occupational activity and parents' mode of commuting to work with the mode of commuting of their children. Methods: A total of 721 families from 4 primary schools in the province of Granada participated in this study. Families reported a questionnaire about mode of commuting of their children, parents' occupational activity and mode of commuting to work, distance and travel time to school. Associations between family's occupational activity and mode of commuting to work with mode of commuting to school of their children were examined using binary logistic regression analysis adjusting for age and children's distance to school. Results: Children whose parents did not work used to engage in higher levels of active commuting to school than those whose parents worked (p = 0,023; OR: 2,67; 95% CI: 1,14-6,23). Children whose parents used to commute actively to work used to engage in higher levels of active commuting to school than those whose parents both used passive modes of commuting to work (p = 0,014; OR: 6,30; 95% CI: 1,45-27,26). Conclusion: Family factors are related to mode of commuting to school in children: Unemployed families and employed families where parent are active commuters to work are more used to have children that commuted to school using active modes.