Elsevier

Journal of Transport & Health

Volume 6, September 2017, Pages 282-288
Journal of Transport & Health

Area-level socio-economic disparities in active and sedentary transport: Investigating the role of population density in Australia

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2017.04.009Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Living in low SES areas was associated with less walking and public transport use.

  • Living in low SES areas was associated with less likelihood of prolonged car use.

  • Associations of SES with transport behaviours were moderated by population density.

  • Low-SES, high-density areas are particularly at risk of being physically inactive.

Abstract

Physical inactivity is considered as a key factor that contributes to socio-economic inequalities in health, a persistent problem in our society. Living in areas of lower socio-economic status (SES) is known to be associated with lower levels of leisure-time physical activity. However, research examining the relationship between area-level SES and transport-related physical activity has reported mixed findings. This may be due to the presence of sub-groups in which differential associations between transport behaviours and SES exist. This cross-sectional study examined associations of area-level SES with active and sedentary transport behaviours, and whether population density moderates the associations. Data from two household surveys conducted in Australia (South East Queensland, Melbourne) were used. Participants (35,283 adults, aged 18–64 years) reported their travel behaviours using a 24-hr travel diary. They were categorised according to the level of walking (active transport), public transport use (active transport), and car use (sedentary transport). Overall, we found that living in lower SES areas was associated with lower likelihood of walking, public transport use, and prolonged car use. However, stratified analyses found that the associations of area-level SES with active and sedentary transport behaviours varied between areas with different levels of population density. Our findings suggest that residents of low-SES, high-density areas in Australia are particularly at risk of being physically inactive for daily travel (less walking, less public transport use, and longer car use). Given that travel behaviours tend to be habitual, preventive actions may be needed to promote active transport and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases for this sub-group. Interdisciplinary research involving the public health, transport, and planning sectors can inform the development of policy initiatives to facilitate active transport.

Section snippets

Background

Health inequalities are a chronic societal problem without simple solutions. Physical inactivity is considered as a key modifiable risk factor that contributes to socio-economic inequalities in health (Eikemo et al., 2014, Hammig et al., 2014, Hosseinpoor et al., 2012, Kamphuis et al., 2008). What matters in this context is not only who you are (individual socio-economic status) but also where you live (area-level socio-economic status) (Macintyre et al., 2002). It is well-documented that lower

Study design and settings

We utilised household travel survey data from two discrete areas of Australia. Household travel surveys, which primarily aim to inform the development of transport modelling and transport-related decision-making, provide detailed information about residents’ travel behaviours. We used the 2009 South East Queensland Travel Survey (SEQTS) and the 2009 Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA). The SEQTS and VISTA were administered by the same consultancy agency using similar

Results

The total number of eligible participants was 35,283 (SEQTS: 13,878; VISTA: 21,405). The number of participating households was 19,042, recruited from 3393 SA1s. Those who did not make any trip on the survey day (n=7478) were excluded from the sample. The number of such participants was larger in lower SES areas (Lowest: 2184; Second: 1835; Third: 1809; and Highest: 1650). Compared to those retained in the sample, non-travellers were less likely to be working (82% of travellers vs 64% of

Discussion

We examined whether the associations of area-level SES with active and sedentary transport behaviours are modified by population density. We found socio-economic gradients in travel behaviours: participants living in higher SES areas were more likely to walk, use public transport, and travel by car than those in lower SES areas. The socio-economic disparity in active transport observed (i.e., higher levels of walking and public transport use in higher SES areas) is consistent with some previous

Conclusion

This study found that population density may play a role in moderating the associations of active and sedentary transport with area-level SES. Our findings show that residents of low-SES, high-density areas are particularly at risk of being physically inactive for daily travel. Given that travel behaviours tend to be habitual, preventive actions may be needed to promote active transport and to reduce the risk of chronic diseases for this sub-group. Such actions, which can include enhancing

Conflict of interest statement

None to report.

Acknoledgements

The study was conducted as an activity of CEPA Transport Working Group. CEPA (Council on Environment and Physical Activity) is one of the five councils of the International Society of Physical Activity and Health. The authors would like to thank the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Victoria Government Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources for providing the SEQTS and VISTA data used in this study. This research did not receive any

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