Citation

Panter J, Jones A, van Sluijs E, Griffin S, Wareham N. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2011; 43(7): 1235-1243.

Affiliation

Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit and UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, UK; School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia and UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), Norwich, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182078532

PMID

21131863

Abstract

PURPOSE:: This study explored the environmental and psychological correlates of active commuting in a sample of adults from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk cohort. METHODS:: Members of the cohort who were in employment, lived within 10km of work, and did not report a limitation that precluded walking were included in this analysis. Psychological factors, perceptions of the neighbourhood environment and travel mode to work were reported using questionnaires. Neighbourhood and route environmental characteristics were estimated objectively using a Geographical Information System. The mediating effects of psychological factors were assessed using a series of regression models. RESULTS:: 1279 adults (mean age of 60.4 years SD=5.4) were included in this analysis, of which, 25% actively commuted to work. In multivariable regression analyses, those who reported strong habits for walking or cycling were more likely to actively commute, whilst those living 4-10km from work were less likely to actively commute. In addition, living in a rural area was associated with a decreased likelihood of men's active commuting and in women, living in a neighbourhood with high road density and having a route to work which was not on a main or secondary road was associated with an increased likelihood of active commuting. There was weak evidence that habit acted to partly mediate the associations between environmental correlates and active commuting in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS:: The findings suggest that interventions designed to encourage the development of habitual behaviours for active commuting may be effective, especially amongst those living close to work.

Language: en