![](https://d3ilqtpdwi981i.cloudfront.net/Y8W5Cqt5o0fcPXGwMxyZVVKOcmU=/425x550/smart/https://bepress-attached-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/43/71/50/437150e6-94a2-49e5-b4e6-53836f33a455/thumbnail_f1841e97-0312-43f8-bd56-f9a9de168337.jpg)
Background: The purposes of this study were to describe and analyze the steps/d of nonwhite minority children and youth by gender, grade level, race/ethnicity, and mode of school transportation. A secondary purpose was to compare the steps/d of minority children and youth to their Caucasian grade-level counterparts. Methods: Participants were 547 minority youth grades 5 to 8 from 4 urban schools. Participants wore sealed pedometers for 6 consecutive week/school days. Three hundred and ten participants responded to a questionnaire concerning their mode of transportation to and from school. Results: Statistical analyses indicated a main effect for gender (F(3,546) = 13.50, P < .001) with no interaction. Boys (12,589 ± 3921) accumulated significantly more steps/d than girls (9,539 ± 3,135). Further analyses also revealed a significant main effect for mode of school transportation (F(2, 309) = 15.97, P < .001). Walkers (12,614 ± 4169) obtained significantly more steps/d than car (10,021 ± 2856) or bus (10,230 ± 3666) transit users. Conclusions: Minority boys obtain similar steps/d as their Caucasian grade-level counterparts; minority girls obtain less steps/d than their Caucasian grade-level counterparts. Minority youth who actively commute are more likely to meet PA recommendations than nonactive commuters.
This document was originally published by Human Kinetics in Journal of Physical Activity & Health. Copyright restrictions may apply. http://journals.humankinetics.com/jpah
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/tyler_johnson/5/