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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Active transportation (AT) has been associated with positive health outcomes, yet limited research has addressed this with college students, a population at-risk for inactivity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between AT behavior and objectively measured fitness outcomes.
METHODS: A volunteer, convenience sample (n=299) of college students from a large northeastern university completed a survey about their AT habits to and on campus and psychosocial constructs related to AT and participated in a lab-based fitness assessment (cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, body composition).Off-campus students were dichotomized as non-active (0-1 AT trips/day) or active travelers (>1AT trips/day) to campus. T-tests compared non-active and active travelers for psychosocial and fitness variables.
RESULTS: Students were 56.3% male, 79.2% Non-Hispanic White and primarily living off-campus (87%). Most students (n=177, 59.2%) reported active travel between classes. Off-campus students were primarily active travelers (76.1%). Active travelers to campus had greater cardiovascular fitness (p=0.005), were more flexible (p=0.006) and had lower systolic blood pressure (p=0.05) compared with non-active travelers.
CONCLUSION: This study documents a relationship between AT behavior and objectively measured fitness among college students and provides a rationale for targeting this behavior as a method for improving health outcomes.
Language: en |