Towards an interdisciplinary science of transport and health: a case study on school travel
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Hodgson, S
Namdeo, A
Araujo-Soares, V
Pless-Mulloli, T
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background and aim
This paper was conceptualised and informed by discussions at the 2nd Workshop in a UKTRC funded series on ‘Social Impacts and Equity in Transport’. Presentations made by a range of stakeholders as well as a specially commissioned play stimulated our thoughts on how to encourage better interaction between health and transport researchers. We chose school travel as a case study as it exemplifies two key aspects of the wider transport and health debates; (i) the increasing trend towards reliance on car travel, described here in the context of sedentary lifestyles, traffic congestion, pollution, and parental attitudes, and (ii) school travel occurs at a critical life-stage during which behaviour patterns are formed that are likely to be influential in later life, thus making it an important target point for interventions.
Methods
We present evidence from four distinct, but complementary, theoretical perspectives: transport, exposure, behaviour and sustainability. We draw common lessons and identify challenges using a range of conceptual frameworks: integrated psychological model of transport choices, Dahlgren and Whitehead’s ‘layers of influence’ model, Hosking et al.’s ‘pathways from transport to health’, and Hanlon et al.’s integral theory. We demonstrate the benefits and challenges of holistic interaction and collaboration between disciplines to better understand the key issues and develop policy interventions that are meaningful and effective.
Results and conclusions
None of the pre-existing conceptual models were fully able to encompass the societal and individual level influences on school travel. However, we present an interim model for further discussion and debate.
This paper was conceptualised and informed by discussions at the 2nd Workshop in a UKTRC funded series on ‘Social Impacts and Equity in Transport’. Presentations made by a range of stakeholders as well as a specially commissioned play stimulated our thoughts on how to encourage better interaction between health and transport researchers. We chose school travel as a case study as it exemplifies two key aspects of the wider transport and health debates; (i) the increasing trend towards reliance on car travel, described here in the context of sedentary lifestyles, traffic congestion, pollution, and parental attitudes, and (ii) school travel occurs at a critical life-stage during which behaviour patterns are formed that are likely to be influential in later life, thus making it an important target point for interventions.
Methods
We present evidence from four distinct, but complementary, theoretical perspectives: transport, exposure, behaviour and sustainability. We draw common lessons and identify challenges using a range of conceptual frameworks: integrated psychological model of transport choices, Dahlgren and Whitehead’s ‘layers of influence’ model, Hosking et al.’s ‘pathways from transport to health’, and Hanlon et al.’s integral theory. We demonstrate the benefits and challenges of holistic interaction and collaboration between disciplines to better understand the key issues and develop policy interventions that are meaningful and effective.
Results and conclusions
None of the pre-existing conceptual models were fully able to encompass the societal and individual level influences on school travel. However, we present an interim model for further discussion and debate.
Date Issued
2012-03-01
Date Acceptance
2012-02-03
Citation
Journal of Transport Geography, 2012, 21, pp.70-79
ISSN
1873-1236
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
70
End Page
79
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Transport Geography
Volume
21
Copyright Statement
© 2012, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Subjects
Social Sciences
Science & Technology
Technology
Economics
Geography
Transportation
Business & Economics
ECONOMICS
GEOGRAPHY
TRANSPORTATION
Transport
Health
Sustainability
Behaviour change
Transport choice
Health behaviour
CHILDRENS PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY
BEHAVIOR-CHANGE TECHNIQUES
PARTICULATE AIR-POLLUTION
PERSONAL EXPOSURE
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
COMMUTER EXPOSURE
FINE PARTICLES
PUBLIC SPACE
URBAN AREAS
WALKING
Publication Status
Published