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Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers Affect the Active Commuting to University in Chilean Students

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  • Antonio Castillo-Paredes

    (Grupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 8370035, Chile)

  • Natalia Inostroza Jiménez

    (Área Salud, Universidad Tecnológica de Chile INACAP, La Serena 1700000, Chile
    Magíster en Nutrición para la Actividad Física y el Deporte, Escuela de Nutrición y Dietética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago 8580745, Chile)

  • Maribel Parra-Saldías

    (IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2374631, Chile)

  • Ximena Palma-Leal

    (IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2374631, Chile)

  • José Luis Felipe

    (School of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain)

  • Itziar Págola Aldazabal

    (School of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain)

  • Ximena Díaz-Martínez

    (Quality of Life Research Group in Different Populations, Department of Education Sciences, Universidad del Bíobío, Chillan 3800949, Chile)

  • Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez

    (IRyS Research Group, School of Physical Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2374631, Chile)

Abstract

Biking and walking are active commuting, which is considered an opportunity to create healthy habits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the main environmental and psychosocial barriers perceived by students, leading to less Active Commuting (AC) to university and to not reaching the Physical Activity (PA) recommendations. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1349 university students (637 men and 712 women) were selected. A self-reported questionnaire was applied to assess the mode of commuting, PA level and barriers to the use of the AC. Results: Women presented higher barriers associated with passive commuting than men. The main barriers for women were “involves too much planning” (OR: 5.25; 95% CI: 3.14–8.78), “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.62; 95% CI: 3.05–6.99) and “It takes too much physical effort “ (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 2.05–4.94). In men, the main barriers were “It takes too much time” (OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.97–5.99), “involves too much planning” (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.67–3.70) and “too much traffic along the route” (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.47–2.93). Psychosocial barriers were found in both sexes. Conclusions: Psychosocial and personal barriers were more positively associated with passive commuting than environmental barriers. Interventions at the university are necessary to improve the perception of AC and encourage personal organization to travel more actively.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Natalia Inostroza Jiménez & Maribel Parra-Saldías & Ximena Palma-Leal & José Luis Felipe & Itziar Págola Aldazabal & Ximena Díaz-Martínez & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez, 2021. "Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers Affect the Active Commuting to University in Chilean Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1818-:d:498661
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    1. Ummay Fatema Urmi & Khalidur Rahman & Md Jamal Uddin & Mohammad Nayeem Hasan, 2022. "The Prevalence of Active Commuting to School and the Factors Influencing Mode Choice: A Study of University Students in a Secondary City of Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-16, December.
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    4. Ximena Palma-Leal & Fernando Rodríguez-Rodríguez & Pablo Campos-Garzón & Antonio Castillo-Paredes & Palma Chillón, 2021. "New Self-Report Measures of Commuting Behaviors to University and Their Association with Sociodemographic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Branka Trček & Beno Mesarec, 2022. "Pathways to Alternative Transport Mode Choices among University Students and Staff—Commuting to the University of Maribor since 2010," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Isabel María Martín-López & Olalla García-Taibo & Antoni Aguiló Pons & Pere Antoni Borràs Rotger, 2024. "Environmental and Psychosocial Barriers to Active Commuting to University in a Spanish University Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-11, February.
    7. Carla Semir-González & Rodrigo Ferrer-Urbina & Carolina Suazo-Navarro & Catalina Flores-Denegri & Darinka Bolados & Joaquín Rosales & Geraldy Sepúlveda-Páez, 2023. "Development of a Scale to Measure Healthy Behaviors in Spanish-Speaking University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-8, February.

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