Active Travel to School, Psychological Distress, Health Risk Behaviors, and Social-Environmental Factors Among Filipino Adolescents

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Active travel to school-walking or biking to school-is a valuable source of physical activity with benefits for physical and mental health. This study examined the association of active travel to school with psychological distress, health risk behaviors, and social-environmental factors among Filipino school-going adolescents. METHODS: The current study analyzed data from the 2011, 2015, and 2019 Global School-based Health Survey. RESULTS: Multivariable logistic regressions showed that those who engaged in frequent active travel to school were more likely to report loneliness and sedentary behavior (≥3 h). On the other hand, frequent active travel was associated with lower chances of having no close friends, being physically inactive, reporting infrequent physical activity, physical education attendance, drinking alcohol, using tobacco, marijuana, and drugs, and consuming fast-food and soft drinks. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that frequent active travel to school is linked to more beneficial than detrimental outcomes. Policymakers are encouraged to strengthen infrastructure that supports safe walking and biking to school to maximize these health and social benefits for Filipino youth.