Impact of Walking School Bus Programs on Self-Efficacy and Outcome Expectations.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the impact of a walking school bus (WSB) program on child self-efficacy (SE), parent SE, and parent outcome expectations (OE) related to active commuting to school.
Results Summary
The WSB intervention led to statistically significant increases in child SE (0.12 points), parent SE (0.11 points), and parent OE (0.09 points) compared to controls. The results supported the hypothesis that the WSB improves behavioral constructs associated with active commuting.
Population
Third- to fifth-grade students and their parents (n = 418 child-parent dyads) from racially diverse, low-income populations in Houston, TX, and Seattle, WA.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
One school year
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | child self-efficacy (SE) | third- to fifth-grade students | 0.12 points | had increases | #1 |
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | parent self-efficacy (SE) | parents of third- to fifth-grade students | 0.11 points | had increases | #2 |
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | parent outcome expectations (OE) | parents of third- to fifth-grade students | 0.09 points | had increases | #3 |
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | child self-efficacy (SE) | - | - | improved | #4 |
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | parent self-efficacy (SE) | - | - | improved | #5 |
walking school bus (WSB) program | increase | parent outcome expectations (OE) | - | - | improved | #6 |
BACKGROUND: A walking school bus (WSB) consists of students and adults walking to and from school and promotes active commuting to school. Self-efficacy (SE) and outcome expectations (OE) are behavioral constructs associated with active commuting to school. The authors sought to assess the impact of a WSB program on child SE, and parent SE, and OE. METHODS: The authors conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of a WSB intervention from 2012 to 2016 among 22 elementary schools serving racially diverse, low-income populations in Houston, TX and Seattle, WA. Surveys collected data from third- to fifth-grade students and their parents, (n = 418) child-parent dyads, before school randomization and at the school year's end. Child surveys included 16 SE items, while parent surveys included 15 SE items and 14 OE items. Scores were averaged from responses ranging from 1 to 3. The authors compared changes in SE and OE between groups over time and accounted for clustering using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The intervention group had increases in child SE of 0.12 points (P = .03), parent SE of 0.11 points (P = .048), and parent OE of 0.09 points (P = .02) compared to controls over time. CONCLUSIONS: As hypothesized, the WSB improved child SE, parent SE, and parent OE related to active commuting to school.