Psychosocial and environmental factors associated with cycling for transport among a working population

The aim of this study was to examine psychosocial and environmental predictors of cycling for transportation. A sample of 343 Flemish adults (43% men) living at maximum 10 km from their workplace was surveyed. Self-report measures of cycling, demographic variables, psychosocial variables, self-effic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health education research 2008-08, Vol.23 (4), p.697-708
Main Authors: de Geus, Bas, De Bourdeaudhuij, Ilse, Jannes, Caroline, Meeusen, Romain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Barriers
Belgium
Bicycling - psychology
Body Composition
Cross-Sectional Studies
Employment
Environment Design
Environmental aspects
Environmental Influences
Female
Females
Health technology assessment
Humans
Male
Males
Middle Aged
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Physical Activities
Physical Environment
Psychosocial factors
Questionnaires
Scientific Concepts
Selection Criteria
Selfefficacy
Social support
Surveys and Questionnaires
Transport
Transportation
Transportation - methods
Workplaces
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Summary:The aim of this study was to examine psychosocial and environmental predictors of cycling for transportation. A sample of 343 Flemish adults (43% men) living at maximum 10 km from their workplace was surveyed. Self-report measures of cycling, demographic variables, psychosocial variables, self-efficacy, perceived benefits and barriers and environmental attributes (destination, traffic variables and facilities at the workplace) of cycling for transport were obtained by means of a mailing questionnaire. Modeling and social support by accompanying, external self-efficacy, ecological–economic awareness and lack of time and interest were positively associated with the likelihood of cycling for transport and varied in importance between cyclists and non-cyclists. Cyclists estimate the time to destination shorter than non-cyclists and indicate to have more facilities for cyclists at the workplace. The results suggest that when people live in a setting with adequate bicycle infrastructure, individual determinants (psychosocial, self-efficacy, perceived benefits and barriers) outperform the role of environmental determinants in this sample. Promotion campaigns aimed at increasing cycling for transportation should focus on creating social support by encouraging cycling with partners, increasing self-efficacy, raising ecological and economic awareness, decreasing lack of time and interest barriers and providing facilities for cyclists at the workplace.
ISSN:0268-1153
1465-3648
DOI:10.1093/her/cym055