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Why Do Students Walk or Cycle for Transportation? Perceived Study Environment and Psychological Determinants as Predictors of Active Transportation by University Students

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  • Monika Teuber

    (Institute of Sports Science, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany)

  • Gorden Sudeck

    (Institute of Sports Science, University of Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany)

Abstract

University students are particularly at risk to suffer from physical and psychological complaints and for not fulfilling health-oriented physical activity (PA) recommendations. Since PA is linked with various benefits for health and educational outcomes, the group of students is of particular interest for PA promotion. Although active commuting has been identified as a relevant domain of PA in order to gain the various benefits of PA, little knowledge is available with respect to university students. This study tested conditions in the study environment, as well as personal motivators and barriers, as determinants for the active transportation of university students. Using a cross-sectional convenience sample of a university in the southwest of Germany ( n = 997), we applied factor analyses to bundle relevant information on environmental and psychological determinants (adapted NEWS-G; adapted transport-related items from an Australian university survey) and blockwise hierarchical regressions. The objective was to analyze associations between the bundled determinants and self-reports on PA for transport-related walking and cycling (measured by the EHIS-PAQ). Results revealed associations between transport-related cycling and the perceived study environment (e.g., high automobile traffic) as well as certain personal motivators and barriers (e.g., time effort or weather conditions). The study contributes to the knowledge about determinants that are important for the development and improvement of public health interventions for students in a university setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Monika Teuber & Gorden Sudeck, 2021. "Why Do Students Walk or Cycle for Transportation? Perceived Study Environment and Psychological Determinants as Predictors of Active Transportation by University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-25, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1390-:d:492277
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    Cited by:

    1. Ming Yu Claudia Wong & Kailing Ou & Chun-Qing Zhang & Ru Zhang, 2022. "Neighborhood Built and Social Environment Influences on Lifestyle Behaviors among College Students in a High-Density City: A Photovoice Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Marco De Angelis & Luca Mantecchini & Luca Pietrantoni, 2021. "A Cluster Analysis of University Commuters: Attitudes, Personal Norms and Constraints, and Travel Satisfaction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Hossain Mohiuddin & Md Musfiqur Rahman Bhuiya & Shaila Jamal & Zhi Chen, 2022. "Exploring the Choice of Bicycling and Walking in Rajshahi, Bangladesh: An Application of Integrated Choice and Latent Variable (ICLV) Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    4. Zhehao Zhang & Thomas Fisher & Haiming Wang, 2023. "Walk Score, Environmental Quality and Walking in a Campus Setting," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Andrea Weber & Katharina Kroiss & Lydia Reismann & Petra Jansen & Gunther Hirschfelder & Anja M. Sedlmeier & Michael J. Stein & Patricia Bohmann & Michael F. Leitzmann & Carmen Jochem, 2023. "Health-Promoting and Sustainable Behavior in University Students in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-14, March.

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