Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Parent And Child Perceptions Of Barriers And Enablers Influencing Active School Travel, Katherine Wilson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Physical activity plays a fundamental role in developing and sustaining the health and well-being of children. Walking is the most common form of physical activity for people of all ages and the daily journey to and from school is a convenient opportunity for children to be physically active through the use of active school travel. This thesis uses a mixed methods approach, using: (a) parent and child surveys to examine how perceptions of barriers influence children’s active school travel; and (b) participatory mapping exercises and qualitative GIS to understand environmental influences on children’s journeys to and from school. Results suggest …