@misc{10481/55221,
year = {2018},
month = {11},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10481/55221},
abstract = {Active commuting to and from school (ACS) could help to increase daily physical activity
levels in youth; however, this association remains unknown in Ecuadorian youth. Thus, the aims of
this study were (1) to determine the patterns of commuting to and from school and (2) to analyze
the associations between ACS, physical activity (PA), and sedentary habits in Ecuadorian youth.
A total of 732 students (65.3% males), aged 10–18 years (children = 246, young adolescents = 310,
older adolescents = 162) from the central region of Ecuador participated in this study. A self-report
questionnaire, including the usual mode and frequency of commuting, distance from home to school
(PACO-Questionnaire), and PA and sedentary habits (YAP-Questionnaire), was used. Most of the
sample lived ≤ 2 km from school; however, they were mainly passive commuters (96%). The most
common mode of commuting was by car (to school = 43.4%, from school = 31.6%; р < 0.001). Children
presented significantly higher scores (0–4) in PA outside school and total PA compared with older
adolescents (2.20 ± 0.97 vs. 1.97 _ 0.96; p = 0.013 and 2.30 _ 0.76 vs. 2.09 _ 0.74, p = 0.019,
respectively), as well as the lowest scores in sedentary habits (1.51 _ 0.65, p < 0.001). PA at school
and total PA were positively associated with ACS (OR 3.137; 95% CI, 1.918 to 5.131; p < 0.001, and OR
2.543; 95% CI, 1.428 to 4.527; p = 0.002, respectively). In conclusion, passive modes of transportation
were the most frequently used to commute to and from school in young Ecuadorians. PA at school
and total PA were positively associated with ACS. Thus, interventions at school setting could be an
opportunity to improve PA levels and additionally ACS in youth from the central region of Ecuador.},
organization = {This study was supported by the Instituto de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Saberes (ICITS) from the
National University of Chimborazo. This study was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry,
and Competitiveness and the European Regional Development Fund [DEP2016-75598-R (MINECO/FEDER, UE)],
and by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigación 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence;
Scientific Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES) through PROFITH Research Group (University of
Granada). R.R.-V., received funding from Convocatoria de Comité de Becas 2017, Universidad del Rosario,
Colombia. The funder had no role in the study design, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation,
the preparation of the manuscript, or the decision to publish.},
publisher = {MDPI},
keywords = {Transport to school},
keywords = {Mode of commuting},
keywords = {Youth},
keywords = {Young},
keywords = {Physical activity},
title = {Mode of Commuting to School and Its Association with Physical Activity and Sedentary Habits in Young Ecuadorian Students},
author = {Barranco Ruiz, Yaira María and Guevara-Paz, Alfredo Xavier and Ramírez-Vélez, Robinson and Chillón Garzón, Palma and Villa González, Emilio},
}