Health Indicators Related to Urban Mobility: A Cross-Sectional Study of Employees of a Company in Anápolis

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity among adolescents is a major public health concern and is associated with increased risk of obesity, cardiometabolic disorders, and poorer psychological health. Active commuting to school, such as walking or cycling, may represent an accessible strategy to increase daily movement and promote broader health benefits. However, the relationship between active commuting, body composition, physical activity level, and subjective well-being remains insufficiently explored, particularly in adolescent populations. Objective: To investigate the association between active commuting to school and indicators of physical health, physical activity level, and subjective well-being in adolescents. Methods: This prospective analytical observational pilot study included 20 adolescents aged 14 to 17 years from a school in Anápolis, Goiás, Brazil. Participants were classified into two groups according to their home–school commuting mode: Active Commuting Group (ACG; n = 10) and Non-Active Commuting Group (NACG; n = 10). The groups were balanced by sex, with five girls and five boys in each group. Active commuting was assessed based on commuting mode, travel time, and home–school distance, which was estimated using Google Maps. Physical activity level was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A), and body composition was evaluated by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Subjective well-being was assessed through positive affect, negative affect, life satisfaction, and global subjective well-being. Descriptive statistics were presented as mean and standard deviation. Between-group comparisons and association analyses were performed adopting a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the ACG and NACG for age, body mass index, body fat percentage, PAQ-A score, or commuting distance. The ACG presented slightly lower mean body mass index and body fat percentage than the NACG, although these differences were not statistically significant. Walking was the only active commuting mode reported, with a mean home–school distance of approximately 2 km. Adolescents in the ACG showed higher positive affect (3.9 ± 0.5 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6), higher life satisfaction (3.8 ± 0.6 vs. 3.2 ± 0.7), and lower negative affect (2.1 ± 0.6 vs. 2.7 ± 0.7) compared with the NACG. Global subjective well-being was significantly higher in the ACG than in the NACG (3.53 ± 0.42 vs. 3.07 ± 0.48; t = 2.37; p = 0.029; d = 0.84). Conclusion: Active commuting to school was associated with higher subjective well-being in adolescents, particularly through higher positive affect, greater life satisfaction, and lower negative affect. Although no significant differences were observed for body composition or physical activity level, the findings suggest that active school commuting may contribute to psychological well-being.