Adolescents Get Moving: Active Travel and Physical Activity in Israel

Background: Habitual physical activity (PA) is a key component in improving health outcomes among adolescents. Active travel (AT), including walking and bicycling, is one method to incorporate PA into daily living. This research examines patterns and associations of AT and PA among adolescents in Israel to better understand motivations for use of AT modes, using data from the Health Behaviour in School Age Children (HBSC) study in Israel.

Aims:

· To describe the prevalence of adolescent AT by socio-demographic characteristics.

· To discuss the association between PA and AT, including PA rates and motivations.

· To discuss the relationship between sedentary behaviors and AT among adolescents.

Methods: The HBSC cross-sectional international study examines adolescent well-being and health behaviors. The 2018/9 HBSC study in Israel included an extended module focused on PA, with questions on AT to and from school (ATS), use of bicycles and e-bikes (N=4409). Statistical analysis includes cross-tabulation analyses to examine associations among two or more categorical variables and comparisons of key variables between groups, as well as weighted logistic regression analyses to investigate predictors associated with the key analysis variables.

Results: Regular use of ATS is reported by 59% of adolescents. Demographics associated with ATS include sex (higher for males, for bicycling, not walking) and age (highest in grade 6), but not socio-economic status. Adolescents who report walking together with parents on a frequent basis were more likely to be ATS users [F(4,4247)= 4.23, p0.01]. Habitual cyclists and ATS users report PA of at least 60 minutes a day more frequently [F(2,4404)= 128.29, p0.001; F(2,4249)= 5.66, p0.01]. Cyclists and ATS users are also more likely to indicate that they are as good or better than their peers at sports [F(2,4404)= 118.67, p0.001; F(2,4249)=8.50, p0.001]. Conversely, cyclists and ATS users were less likely to report high rates (4+ hours daily) of sedentary behavior [F(2,4404)= 30.18, p0.001; F(2,4249)=15.99, p0.001]. The number of reported neighborhood facilities for AT and PA was not associated with adolescent AT. Additional characteristics of AT users, predictors of AT as well as time spent on AT and PA will be presented.

Discussion: Adolescent AT is associated with higher rates of PA and lower rates of sedentary behavior (not necessarily establishing a causal relationship). In contrast with PA, walking to school is similar for males and females and ATS is similar across socio-economic groups. Parents may have an impact on AT behaviors; walking with parents regularly is associated with ATS.

Conclusions: Promotion of adolescent AT may serve as stepping stone to increase PA across different socio-demographic groups. Programs that increase adolescent AT for both school and leisure trips and joint AT with parents are recommended.