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My Way to School Through a Camera Lens: Involving Children to Inform a Policy Recommendation on Active School Travel
Luleå University of Technology, Department of Health, Education and Technology, Health, Medicine and Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-9376-6053
The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, Linköping, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8074-3634
Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden; Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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2025 (English)In: Health Promotion Practice, ISSN 1524-8399, E-ISSN 1552-6372, Vol. 26, no 3, p. 437-445Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Active school travel (AST) is an effective approach for increasing children’s physical activity and independent mobility, but policy supporting AST is lacking. This study aims to explore children’s experiences of AST to inform a policy recommendation. Photovoice methodology with a qualitative approach was applied, with children taking pictures on their way to school. This was followed by focus groups where the children explored their experiences of AST based on their photos. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results show that the children valued independent mobility and wanted to be involved in decisions about their travels; they also expressed feelings of increased responsibility and personal growth as a consequence. Although the children recognized areas of improvement regarding infrastructure, especially regarding heavy traffic that jeopardized travel safety, they continued using AST. Finally, the children talked about the value of the health and environmental benefits of AST. Opportunities for friendship, play, and making decisions about their own time were highlighted as important incentives. The benefits from AST are many for children, as well as for society. The result has informed policy recommendations for AST, and the children’s input will be used to communicate the recommendations. Listening to the voices of children could be a steppingstone toward forming future healthy mobility initiatives. In that process, it is key to include children’s perspectives when formulating the AST policy for successful adoption and implementation.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2025. Vol. 26, no 3, p. 437-445
Keywords [en]
active commuting, active school travel, active transport, child/adolescent health, health promotion, photovoice, physical activity/exercise, public health laws/policies
National Category
Public Health, Global Health and Social Medicine
Research subject
Physiotherapy and Health Promotion
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-107513DOI: 10.1177/15248399241255376ISI: 001242003900001PubMedID: 38845227Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105002265281OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-107513DiVA, id: diva2:1873933
Funder
Vinnova, 2021-03049
Note

Validerad;2025;Nivå 1;2025-06-25 (u2);

Full text license: CC BY

Available from: 2024-06-19 Created: 2024-06-19 Last updated: 2026-01-21Bibliographically approved

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Rutberg, StinaLindqvist, Anna-Karin

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