ACTIVE COMMUTING TO SCHOOL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND LIFESTYLE INFLUENCES IN SPANISH ADOLESCENTS: PACO Y PACA (PEDAL AND WALK TO SCHOOL, PEDAL AND WALK HOME) PROTOCOL STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse the means of school commuting and the influences of the physical and psychosocial environment (family influence and other significant influences such as that of peers) as well as the influence of other lifestyle habits (sleep patterns, hours of screens and aspects nutrition) when commuting to/from school for adolescents in Toledo, Granada, Seville and Valencia. The PACOyPACA Project consists of a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 3rd year Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) students from 4 Spanish cities (Toledo, Granada, Valencia, and Seville) and their parents. To guarantee the representativeness of the sample, schools were randomly selected based on the socioeconomic level (SES) and the "walkability" index of the neighbourhood in which they are located. The PACOyPACA project will serve to raise awareness about the current state of active commuting to school (ACS) in adolescence and the possible factors that influence it. This knowledge will allow a better interpretation of the current situation and will be useful for the design and creation of strategies in order to promote ACS. These strategies will allow the creation of a National guide to promote initiatives using schools as a key point of action.