Children's experiences of the journey between home and school: A qualitative synthesis using meta-ethnography

Stephanie Morris; Emma R Lawlor; Louise Foley; Carolyn Summerbell; Jenna Panter; Jean Adams; Russell Jago; Tessa M Pollard

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102819

Children's experiences of the journey between home and school: A qualitative synthesis using meta-ethnography

Health Place. 2022 Jul:76:102819. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102819. Epub 2022 Jun 3.

Authors

Stephanie Morris¹, Emma R Lawlor², Louise Foley², Carolyn Summerbell³, Jenna Panter², Jean Adams², Russell Jago⁴, Tessa M Pollard⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK; Department of Sport and Exercises Sciences, Durham University, 42 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN, UK; Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, UK. Electronic address: stephanie.l.morris@durham.ac.uk.
² MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
³ Department of Sport and Exercises Sciences, Durham University, 42 Old Elvet, Durham, DH1 3HN, UK; Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, UK.
⁴ Centre for Exercise, Nutrition & Health Sciences, School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK.
⁵ Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK; Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, UK.

PMID: 35667224
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102819

Abstract

This paper uses meta-ethnography to synthesise qualitative and ethnographic studies of children's (aged 5-13) experiences of socio-material environments on their school journey. Most of the 21 papers (18 studies) identified from the systematic search were from high-income countries and used self-report qualitative methods. Our synthesis shows children can feel vulnerable, but also negotiate journeys and manage risks, enjoy shared and solitary mobility, and explore their material environments. School journeys offer children a place to learn and develop agency within their socio-material environments. Attending to these wider benefits of school journeys, alongside supporting children to develop active modes attuned to the risks associated with these journeys, could improve the reach and impact of active school travel initiatives.

Keywords: Active travel; Children; Environment; Health; Systematic review; Transport.

Publication types

Systematic Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Anthropology, Cultural*
Child
Child, Preschool
Humans
Qualitative Research
Schools*
Self Report

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding