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Residential proximity to school and the active travel choices of parents
Author(s) -
Cole Rachel,
Leslie Eva,
Donald Maria,
Cerin Ester,
Owen Neville
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he07127
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , population health , health economics , medicine , public health , demography , psychology , gerontology , nursing , sociology , philosophy , linguistics
Issue addressed Walking for transport can contribute significantly to health‐enhancing physical activity. We examined the prevalence and duration of walking to and from school, together with perceived influences on doing so, among parents of primary school children. Methods Questionnaires were completed by parents from four primary schools (one government and three private) located in south‐east Queensland (n=559; 40% response rate). Results Eighteen per cent of parents reported walking for at least 10 minutes during journeys to school. Significantly greater proportions of parents with only one car in their household, with a child who attended a government school, with no driver's licence, who had less than 11 years of education, and lived within two kilometres of the school walked for at least 10 minutes during the school journey. Factors perceived by parents most strongly to influence walking to school were: being physically active; safety concerns for the child walking alone; not having to park; walking being the child's preferred option; too much motor vehicle traffic; and their child's age and level of road sense. Conclusions Despite the overall low prevalence of walking to school by parents, health‐enhancing benefits may be achieved even when other modes of transport are used in conjunction with walking. So what? Policies and campaigns on walking to school could target parents and children simultaneously. School proximity to residential areas and school catchment policies can help to promote a supportive environment for walking to school. Reduced traffic speed and volume and other physical and social innovations in schools and local communities that address influences will also be important.