Aim: Promoting active travel to school (AST) by using bicycles among students aged 11 to 15 years in Europe
Description: The project will be organized in four work packages. In the first work package, a secondary quantitative analysis of data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study between 2002 and 2018 will be conducted which aim is to explore active school travel (AST) behaviour of youths aged 11 to 15 years in Europe. The objects of investigation will be on the one hand to identify prevalence and trends of AST in Europe, built and social environmental barriers and facilitators of AST, and differences between rural and urban areas. On the other hand, researchers from Germany (Heidelberg University of Education), Czech Republic and Poland will summarize project-related scientific and practical outcomes of the HBSC analysis (e.g. associations between AST and overall/recommended PA or health indicators).
In the second work package, a mixed method study utilizing concept mapping sessions will be performed in each participating country. This needs assessment will use a participatory approach targeting key stakeholders (adolescents, parents, and teachers) to analyse barriers and facilitators concerning engagement in AST.
In the third work package, a systematic review will be written which aim is to summarize strategies and effects of promising bicycle-based interventions to increase AST among pupils. On the basis of this scientific background, a school-based bicycle intervention program will be planned, implemented and evaluated that will promote AST among ca. 200 students aged 11 to 15 years (grades 5 to 9) in eight classes of two schools (intervention vs. control group) in each of the five countries. The design of the six-month intervention will be theory driven and will include a bikepool with 15 bicycles for each school, education of teachers, students and parents regarding road and bicycle safety, and a collaboration between project partners, local schools and local bicycle stores. During the intervention period, a process evaluation among teachers, parents and youths will be realised. Data assessment targeting AST behaviour, intervention effects and barriers as well as facilitators of AST will take place at three measuring points (pre, post and follow-up three months after the intervention).
The last work package will contain the dissemination of project results to key stakeholders across Europe to ensure sustainability. Therefore, a web page of the project and each participating organisation will be designed, local and social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) will be used, researchers will speak at conferences and will write publications, reports, infographics or articles for magazines. In Addition, local sensitisation events targeting schools will be arranged to present activities and components to increase AST (best practice example), inform about health-enhancing AST benefits and deliver material (e.g. concept, toolbox and guidelines).
Partner: TUM (Germany, Munich), Heidelberg University of Education (Germany, Heidelberg), Palacky University (Czech Republic, Olomouc), VU University Medical Center (The Netherlands, Amsterdam), University of Lisbon (Portugal, Lisbon), and Institute of Mother and Child (Poland, Warsaw)
Funding: Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), ERASMUS+ Sport Programme
Dzielska, Anna; Michalska, Agnieszka; Kleszczewska, Dorota; Schönbach, Dorothea M.I.; Marques, Adilson; Peralta, Miguel; Demetriou, Yolanda: Translation, Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction in Active Commuting to and from School (BPNS-ACS) Scale in Polish Students. Journal of Mother and Child 0 (0), 2022 more…
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Marques, Adilson; Santos, Thiago; Demetriou, Yolanda; Schönbach, Dorothea M. I.; Peralta, Miguel; Lagestad, Pål; Martins, João; Kleszczewska, Dorota; Dzielska, Anna; Gouveia, Élvio R.: Adaptation of the Behavioural Regulation in Active Commuting to School (BR-ACS) Questionnaire in Portuguese Youth. Children 9 (2), 2022, 182 more…
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2021
Marques, Adilson; Santos, Thiago; Gouveia, Élvio R.; Demetriou, Yolanda; Schönbach, Dorothea M. I.; Ferrari, Gerson; Kleszczewska, Dorota; Dzielska, Anna; Peralta, Miguel: Translation and Validation of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Active Commuting to and from School (BPNS-ACS) Scale in Young Portuguese Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (24), 2021, 13091 more…
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Schönbach, Dorothea M. I.; Chillón, Palma; Marques, Adilson; Peralta, Miguel; Demetriou, Yolanda: Study Protocol of a School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Cycling to School Among Students in Germany Using Intervention Mapping: The ACTS Project. Frontiers in Public Health 9, 2021 more…
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2020
Schönbach, D.M.I.; Brindley, C.; Reimers, A.K.; Marques, A.; Demetriou, Y: Socio-Demographic Correlates of Cycling to School among 12-to 15-Year Olds in Southern Germany. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (24), 2020 more…
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Schönbach, D.M.I.; Vondung, C.; Hidding, L.M.; Altenburg, T.M.; Chinapaw, M.J.M.; Demetriou, Y.: Gender Influence on Students, Parents, and Teachers’ Perceptions of What Children and Adolescents in Germany Need to Cycle to School: A Concept Mapping Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17 (6872), 2020 more…
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Schönbach, Dorothea M. I.; Altenburg, Teatske M.; Marques, Adilson; Chinapaw, Mai J. M.; Demetriou, Yolanda: Strategies and effects of school-based interventions to promote active school transportation by bicycle among children and adolescents: a systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 17 (1), 2020 more…
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2019
Schönbach, Dorothea M. I.; Altenburg, Teatske M.; Chinapaw, Mai J. M.; Marques, Adilson; Demetriou, Yolanda: Strategies and effects of promising school-based interventions to promote active school transportation by bicycle among children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review. Systematic Reviews 8 (1), 2019 more…
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