Active commuting and habit strength: an interactive and discriminant analyses approach

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Public Health
• Transportation Studies

Background:

• Habits are crucial mediators between environmental factors and active commuting.
• Understanding habit strength is key to promoting active transportation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate habit strength's role in active commuting within the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework.
• Examine how habit strength moderates the intention-behavior relationship for active commuting.
• Identify profiles of active commuters based on commuting habits, motivation, and intention.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional survey of 538 undergraduate students using validated questionnaires.
• Assessed active commuting via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.
• Measured habit strength, TPB constructs, and underlying beliefs.

Main Results:

• Habit strength was the strongest correlate of active commuting.
• High habit strength attenuated the intention-behavior link for cycling.
• Beliefs about situational barriers, not health benefits, differentiated commuter profiles.

Conclusions:

• Stronger active commuting habits reduce the impact of intention on behavior.
• Future health interventions should prioritize building confidence in active commuting scenarios.
• Focusing on situational confidence may be more effective than emphasizing health advantages.