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Children’s active school transportation: an international scoping review of psychosocial factors
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1970-0333
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3145-7698
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9813-2719
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2024 (English)In: Systematic Reviews, ISSN 2046-4053, Vol. 13, no 1, article id 47Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Background: Over the last decades, the prevalence of AST has decreased significantly. Barriers to active school transport (AST) have been extensively examined in the literature, while psychosocial factors that facilitate AST have received less attention. To our best knowledge, there are currently no reviews on this subject. Therefore, the objective of this review was to scope the literature and identify published research about psychosocial factors related to AST.

Methods: Systematic searches conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, TRID, Scopus, and ERIC resulted in a total of 1933 publications, and 77 of them were considered eligible for this review.

Results: The results of the included articles were categorised into four psychosocial factors: confidence in ability, attitudes, social support, and social norms, which were all generally positively related to AST, with a few exceptions.

Conclusion: The findings of this review indicate that these psychosocial factors may be important to consider when developing interventions and highlight that both children and parents should be involved in the process. This knowledge can serve as a valuable guide for developing interventions to promote AST. However, the evidence base supporting these psychosocial factors requires further investigation to fully understand how and when to incorporate them to maximise AST efficacy.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Springer Nature, 2024. Vol. 13, no 1, article id 47
Keywords [en]
Active school commuting, Confidence in ability, Attitudes, Social support, Social norms
National Category
Other Health Sciences
Research subject
Physiotherapy
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-104238DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02414-yISI: 001153280100001PubMedID: 38291491Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85183648004OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-104238DiVA, id: diva2:1836817
Funder
Vinnova, 2019–00936
Note

Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-02-12 (joosat);

CC BY Full text license

Available from: 2024-02-12 Created: 2024-02-12 Last updated: 2025-10-21Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. The road towards making the active choice the easy choice: Facilitating and feasibility aspects of children’s active transportation
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The road towards making the active choice the easy choice: Facilitating and feasibility aspects of children’s active transportation
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Children’s health is a critical concern, and advocating for their well-being is essential for their future. To promote children’s health, it is suggested that they undertake an average of 60 minutes of daily physical activity. However, few children meet this recommendation. In efforts to increase children’s daily physical activity, they are recommended to use active transportation to different places such as walking or cycling to school, also known as active school transportation (AST). In accordance with this, the research in this thesis is expected to expand the existing knowledge about children’s active transportation. The overall aim of the thesis was to explore facilitating aspects of AST and how to make interventions feasible in a school context. The thesis is composed of four papers; the first is a scoping review, and papers II, III, and IV employ qualitative methodologies. Three papers included children as participants (I, II, IV), while two involved school personnel (III, IV). Data was collected from five separate databases (I), focus groups (IV), photovoice with group discussions (II), and individual interviews (III, IV). The data from the first paper was synthesized into a narrative format, while the analysis for the following papers was done using thematic analysis (II) and latent content analysis (III, IV). The findings indicated that psychosocial factors related to AST include confidence in ability, attitudes, social support, and social norms (I). Additionally, independence in active transportation is central, allowing children to engage more in play, spend time with peers, and connect with their community, thereby enhancing their confidence in their abilities (II). From a feasibility perspective, flexibility, meaningfulness, and support were identified as critical elements for the school personnel in executing the AST intervention (III). Finally, the intervention was attractive to children and school personnel for continued use, and interventions could benefit from engagement, togetherness, and gamification for motivation (IV). In conclusion, this thesis suggests that to make the active choice the easy choice, interventions could accommodate facilitating factors. Peer accompaniment, and the opportunity to engage in playful activities along their route, are particularly important for children using AST. Additionally, fostering independence in daily practices can enhance children’s personal development and confidence in their abilities, thereby acting as a facilitator for AST. Flexibility in the execution of the intervention and support including collaboration are key feasibility aspects that should be considered when designing a school-based intervention, particularly given their heavy workload. Understanding the motivations behind school personnels engagement and their acceptance of the interventions is also important. Visual results, enabled by progress tracking and gamification, were compelling motivators for teachers to participate in the intervention. Finally, to promote AST and foster children’s independence in such behaviour with school-based interventions, it should be made fun and playful for children, and easy for school personnel to incorporatein to the school context.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Luleå: Luleå University of Technology, 2024
Series
Doctoral thesis / Luleå University of Technology, ISSN 1402-1544
Keywords
Active school travel, feasibility, psychosocial factors, children, teachers, health promotion, physical activity
National Category
Physiotherapy
Research subject
Physiotherapy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-104989 (URN)978-91-8048-521-0 (ISBN)978-91-8048-522-7 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-10-15, E632, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-04-05 Created: 2024-04-05 Last updated: 2025-10-21Bibliographically approved

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Savolainen, EvaLindqvist, Anna-KarinMikaelsson, KatarinaNyberg, LarsRutberg, Stina

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