Generational differences in school commuting - parental physical activity and short journeys encourage active commuting
Active commuting to school, such as walking or cycling, is an important form of everyday physical activity for children and youth. However, it has declined in many countries in recent decades.
"In this study, we also found that active commuting to school was more common among the older generation than among their children," says researcher Tuuli Suominen.
As expected, the length of the school trip was the most important factor explaining active commuting for both generations in both summer and winter conditions. Shorter distances are more often covered by walking or cycling. An urban living environment is also conducive to active travel, while in rural areas school trips are more passive.
The age of students also has an impact. Active commuting is most common in primary school age, when school trips are typically shorter than in lower secondary and upper secondary school. For the older generation, active commuting declined as they transitioned from primary to lower secondary school. For the younger generation, active commuting appears to decrease not before upper secondary school.
" Physical activity and active commuting to school have been promoted in Finnish society, especially in basic education grades 1-9. This may partly explain the observed differences between the generations," says Suominen.
The role of parents is crucial
The impact of family income level on school commuting also differed between the generations. High income was associated with active commuting in the 1980s, but not in the 2010s. Gender and parental education level were not associated with active school commuting.
"The study suggests that active school commuting in Finland appears to be equitable regarding gender, parental education level and, in the 2010s, family income level. Active commuting to school should be encouraged, especially in rural areas, and it is important that school trips remain short enough to allow cycling or walking to school."
Another interesting finding was that parental physical activity was positively associated with active commuting to school by children, both in summer and winter.
"There are many ways to promote active commuting, and parents often play a key role in how their children travel to school."
"Supporting parents' physical activity can have a positive impact not only on their own activity but also on their children's physical activity."
The study is part of the larger longitudinal Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study (YFS), which began in 1980 and was expanded to a three-generation study at the most recent follow-up in 2018. This study used survey data collected from two generations on school commuting and its determinants at ages 9-18 years. The original subjects' school commuting was studied in 1983 and their offspring's commuting in 2018. School commuting was studied separately in both summer and winter conditions. Questionnaire data were collected from 2075 original respondents and their 1137 offspring.
The study was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.
Original publication:
Suominen TH, Kukko T, Yang X, Pahkala K, Rovio S, Hirvensalo M, Kähönen M, Raitakari O, Tammelin T & Salin K. Correlates of active commuting to school across two generations: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2024;0(0).  
Additional information:
Associate Professor Kasper Salin, kasper.j.salin@jyu.fi, tel. +358 40 805 3964
Researcher Tuuli Suominen, (PhD), tuuli.suominen@jyu.fi
