Acculturating into (In)active Commuting to School
Differences between Children of Foreign-Born and U.S.-Born Caregivers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7721/chilyoutenvi.26.1.0037Keywords:
safe routes to school, active commuting to school, foreign-born caregivers, perceptions of neighborhood environment, accultration, active living in the suburbsAbstract
This study explores how the cultural backgrounds of caregivers influence their perceptionsand attitudes toward their children’s active commuting to school. Caregivers in a suburban school district reported low rates of active commuting among children. Domestic and foreign-born caregivers differed in their perceptionsofsafetyfrom crime. In addition, foreign-born caregivers who are more acculturated tend to be more reluctant to allow children’s active commuting to schoolin the near future, compared to foreign-born caregivers who are less acculturated. Cultural factors and perceptions of safety from crime should be considered in the development of programs that promote active commuting to school.