01127388

Component

This paper is concerned with social influence of networks, specifically friends and family, on participation in physical activity by urban adolescents. Specifically the paper aims to explore what kinds of social supports from family and friends are associated with levels of physical activity, including walking, and measure of health outcomes. The study relies upon data collected from urban adolescents attending two magnet high schools in the Baltimore area. Data were collected about students’ transportation behavior and levels of physical activity for a one week period. In addition, students were asked a number of questions on a web-based survey about their physical activity, social supports from friend and family, and recall behaviors. Information about student height and weight was used to calculate a measure of body mass index (BMI). Factor analysis was used to identify six factors of family social support and seven factors of friend social support. These factors were used as independent variables in models of walking, physical activity levels and BMI. Results are mixed but demonstrate the importance of investigating social supports in health and transportation behaviors.

01120148

09-2818

English

19p

2009

Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting

DVD

Figures (1) ; References (35) ; Tables (5)

Human body mass; Physical fitness; Public health; Social factors; Social impacts; Travel behavior; Travel surveys; Walking

Body mass index

Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2009 Paper #09-2818

TRIS, TRB

Jan 30 2009 7:10PM