Article
Social ecological correlates of children’s active commuting to school in rural areas
Journal of Health Behavior and Public Health
(2014)
Abstract
Active commuting to school (ACS) can help increase children’s physical activity level and may contribute to curbing the epidemic of childhood obesity. However, most ACS studies conducted in the United States were in White-dominated urban areas. It remains unclear what factors promote or prevent children from using ACS in minority-predominant rural areas. The study aims to explore multi-level social ecological factors influencing child’s ACS in a lower social economic status ethnic minority-dominated rural area in the United States. Parents (N=298) of fourth graders from 7 rural schools in Texas participated in the study. A theoretical model was developed based on social ecological theory. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to examine factors influencing children’ ACS. Only 7.6% of children in this study walked or biked to school, which was much lower than the national level (13%) and the rates in most previous studies. Supportive peer influence (OR = 3.65, P = 0.012) and parents’ knowledge of the School Wellness Policy implemented in their children’s school district (OR = 3.10, P =.021) contributed positively to children’s ACS, while parents’ concerns about neighborhood safety affected negatively (OR = .13, P < .001). All the factors identified are amenable to change or improve. Interventions at multiple social ecological levels should be conducted to promote child’s ACS in minority dominant rural areas.
Keywords
- rural area,
- active commuting to schooll,
- rural areas correlates
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 20, 2014
Citation Information
Wenhua Lu, Laina Zhu, Sharon McWhinney, E. Lisako J. McKyer, et al.. "Social ecological correlates of children’s active commuting to school in rural areas" Journal of Health Behavior and Public Health Vol. 4 Iss. 1 (2014) p. 9 - 19 ISSN: ISSN 2146 9334 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/sharon-mcwhinney/15/