Factors associated with active commuting among a nationally representative sample of Canadian youth.

Objectives: Given the link between active commuting and physical activity, this study examined factors associated with active commuting among a nationally representative sample of Canadian youth.

Methods: Using data from the 2010-11 Youth Smoking Survey, this study examined different forms of commuting (active, inactive, mixed) and factors associated with either mixed or active commuting among grade 6 to 12 students.

Results: Among Canadian youth in 2010-11, only 22.1% reported being an active commuter and only 25.7% reported being a mixed commuter. Students were more likely to commute actively if they were male, in younger grades (grades 6-10), a normal weight, a current smoker, or lived in urban areas.

Conclusion: There is substantial opportunity to promote active commuting within the Canadian context since most youth were inactive commuters. Future research should explore the underlying facilitators or barriers to active commuting so that we better understand how best to promote active commuting among the subpopulations of youth (e.g., females, overweight youth, non-smokers, youth in rural areas) who are less likely to commute actively.