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: Understanding parental barriers is crucial to promote active commuting to school since the parental perceptions influence how young people commute. This study examined parental barriers to active commuting to school among Spanish children and adolescents, and their association with their gender and the usual mode of commuting. Parents of children ( n = 628) and parents of adolescents ( n = 151) from Granada (Spain) completed a paper-based questionnaire about perceived parental barriers to active commuting to school and mode of commuting. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Among Spanish parents, the most common barriers reported by parents of children were traffic volume and dangerous intersections, whereas the most frequent barriers reported by parents of adolescents were distance to school and dangerous intersections. Compared to parents of children, a greater proportion of parents of adolescents reported distance to school and crime and smaller proportion reported traffic volume as barriers to active commuting to school. Among parents of children, crime was a more commonly reported as a barrier by parents of girls. Although some barriers reported by parents of passive commuters were similar for children and adolescents (such as distance to school and absence of a policeman at crosswalks), other barriers were specific to parents of children. The main parental barriers to active commuting in children were traffic volume and dangerous intersections whereas for adolescents were distance and dangerous intersections. Among Spanish parents, parental barriers to active commuting are influenced by children's age, gender and mode of commuting to school.

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Active commuting to and from school has several health implications. Self-reporting is the most common assessment tool, but there is a high heterogeneity of questionnaires in the scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to analyse the feasibility and reliability of the Spanish “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire in children and adolescents. A total of 635 children (5–12 years old) and 362 adolescents (12–18 years old) filled out the questionnaire twice (14 days apart). Feasibility was evaluated using an observational checklist. The test-retest reliability of the “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire and the distance and time to school were examined using the kappa and weight kappa coefficient (κ). No misunderstanding of questions was reported. The time to complete the questionnaire was 15 ± 3.62 and 9 ± 2.26 min for children and adolescents, respectively. The questionnaire showed substantial and almost perfect kappa coefficients for the overall six items (k = 0.61–0.94) in children and adolescents. The “New Version of Mode and Frequency of Commuting To and From School” questionnaire is a feasible and reliable questionnaire in Spanish children and adolescents.

Background: Some studies have reported a positive parent–child association between physical activity (PA), but few have examined the difference in these associations concerning both genders. The objective of this study was to establish the association between moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and mode of commuting (MC) of the parents with their children by gender and age group. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 686 mothers and fathers (43.4 ± 6.5 years old) and their children (children 9.7 ± 1.7 y. and adolescents 14.0 ± 1.7 y.). Each participant completed a questionnaire on PA and MC. Chi-square test, odds ratio for categorical variables, and lineal regressions for continuous variables were used to examine the parent–child associations. Results: An inverse association was found between fathers–children in the weekend MVPA in children and between mothers–adolescents in out-of-school and weekend MVPA. An inverse association was found in MVPA between mothers-girls, and the different parents’ MC to work was positively associated with the MC to school in children and adolescents except for the association AC parents–adolescents. The AC was mainly associated between mothers and girls and boys. Conclusions: A weak association in parent–child MVPA but a strong association in MC between parent–child was found.

The main objectives of this study were: to compare the barriers to active commuting to and from school (ACS) between children and their parents separately for children and adolescents; and to analyze the association between ACS and the children’s and parents’ barriers. A total of 401 child–parent pairs, from Granada, Jaén, Toledo and Valencia, self-reported, separately, their mode of commuting to school and work, respectively, and the children’s barriers to ACS. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyze the differences by age for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Binary logistic regressions were performed to study the association between ACS barriers of children and parents and ACS. Both children and adolescents perceived higher physical and motivational barriers and social support barriers towards ACS than their parents (all p < 0.05). Additionally, the parents perceived higher distance, traffic safety, convenience, built environment, crime-related safety and weather as barriers towards ACS, than their children (all p < 0.05). Moreover, a higher perception of barriers was related to lower ACS. The results of our study showed the necessity of attenuating the perceptions of children and their parents in order to increase ACS. This is relevant to develop interventions in the specific contexts of each barrier and involving both populations.

Es fundamental elaborar un protocolo de evaluación para garantizar rigor y homogeneidad en cualquier estudio de investigación. Asimismo, se requieren consideraciones específicas si la investigación se desarrolla en contexto educativo y en diferentes centros educativos. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo describir el protocolo de evaluación del estudio de investigación titulado: Estudio PACO “Pedalea y Anda al Colegio”. Además, se aportan recomendaciones globales y aplicaciones prácticas en el contexto educativo. El principal objetivo del estudio PACO es fomentar el comportamiento de desplazamiento activo entre estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria para mejorar los niveles de actividad física y otros indicadores de salud asociados. Por ello, el protocolo de evaluación incluye la metodología e instrumentos específicos para evaluar en los adolescentes variables como: 1) modo de desplazamiento al centro educativo y otros factores psicosociales asociados a dicho desplazamiento mediante el cuestionario PACO alumnos, 2) barreras familiares para el desplazamiento activo al centro educativo mediante el cuestionario PACO familias, 3) características antropométricas (peso, talla, perímetro de cintura y de cuello), 4) niveles de actividad física y gasto energético evaluados mediante acelererometría y 5) características de la ruta real casa-colegio registradas mediante Sistema de Posicionamiento Global. La transparencia en la metodología y logística necesaria para evaluar dichas variables en contexto educativo, es la clave para garantizar el rigor y la homogeneidad en futuras implementaciones, ya sean estas realizadas por investigadores o docentes. Finalmente, los datos obtenidos, serán fiables y relevantes para implementar estrategias educativas que fomenten la salud integral de los adolescentes. Abstract. It is essential to develop an evaluation protocol to develop rigor and homogeneity in any research study. Likewise, some considerations are specifically needed if the research is carried out in an educational context and in different schools. This work aims to describe y the evaluation protocol of the research study entitled: PACO Study “Cycle and Walk to School”. In addition, it provides global recommendations and practical applications in the educational context. The main objective of the PACO Study is to promote the behaviour of active commuting among students of Compulsory Secondary Education to improve their physical activity levels and other associated health indicators. For this reason, the evaluation protocol includes the specific methodology and instruments for evaluating variables such as: 1) mode of commuting to school and other psychosocial factors associated with active commuting through the PACO student questionnaire, 2) family barriers to active commuting to school through the PACO families questionnaire, 3) anthropometric characteristics (weight, height, waist and neck circumference), 4) levels of physical activity and energy expenditure evaluated by accelerometry and 5) characteristics of the real home-school route through a Global Positioning System. The transparency in the methodology and logistic necessary to evaluate the variables in the educational context is key to evaluate the rigor and homogeneity in future implementations, whether they are carried out by researchers or teachers. Finally, the obtained data will be reliable and relevant to implement educational strategies in order to promote an integral health of the adolescents.

This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol of a school-based randomized controlled trial called “Cycling and Walk to School” (PACO, by its Spanish acronym) that aims to promote cycling to and from school and physical activity (PA) in adolescents. This study will examine the effects of this intervention in cycling and active commuting to and from school (ACS), PA and several ACS-related factors based on self-determination theory (SDT) and a social-ecological model (SEM). A total of 360 adolescents attending six high schools (three experimental and three control) from three Spanish cities will participate in this randomized controlled trial. The intervention (four cycling sessions; 1–2 h per session, one session per week) will be conducted by the research staff; the control group will continue their usual activities. PA levels will be measured by accelerometers, whereas ACS and the other study variables will be self-reported using questionnaires at baseline and post-intervention. The primary outcomes will be: rates of cycling to school, ACS and PA levels. In addition, SDT-related variables and individual, interpersonal, community, and environment variables relevant to ACS will be based on SEM. The findings will provide a comprehensive understanding of the short-term effects of this school-based intervention on cycling to school behaviour, ACS and PA levels in Spanish adolescents.