Does active travel behaviour moderate the association between the built environment and depression?
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background Built environment characteristics have been associated with depressive symptoms, whilst active travel behaviour is linked to improved mental health. However, it remains unclear whether active travel buffers associations between increased exposure to the built environment and worse mental health. Methods In this pre-registered study, participants were 10,310 mothers (mean age = 28.11, SD = 4.83) participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). A latent built environment factor was measured at study enrolment, active travel behaviour at a 2-year follow-up, and depressive symptoms at a 4-year follow-up. Moderation was examined using adjusted linear regression models including an interaction term between the built environment factor and active travel behaviour. Results The built environment factor was positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = 0.023, p = .012). Active travel behaviour was not associated with depressive symptoms (β = −0.002, p = .854) and did not moderate the association between the built environment factor and depressive symptoms (β = −0.002, p = .865), after adjusting for covariates, including age, familial depressive history, socioeconomic risk factors, physical activity, baseline depressive symptoms and smoking. Conclusion Contrary to expectations, active travel behaviour does not modify associations between the built environment and depressive symptoms. These findings provide no evidence that active travel mitigates mental health risks associated with the built environment in this population. What is already known on this topic Some features of the built environment have been associated with poor mental health, and active travel has been linked to better psychological wellbeing. However, it is unclear whether active travel can reduce the mental health risks associated with more urbanised environments. What this study adds We tested active travel as a potential modifier of the longitudinal association between the built environment and depressive symptoms. We found no evidence that active travel buffered this association in a sample of mothers. How this study might affect research, practice or policy Engagement in active travel alone may be insufficient to offset mental health risks associated with the built environment, and future research should test whether these relationships differ across populations, travel purposes and levels of active travel.
Source: medRxiv
Institution: University of Bath
Language: English
Subfield: Transportation
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: Government of the United Kingdom, UK Research and Innovation, European Commission, University of Bristol, National Institutes of Health, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Medical Research Council, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, National Institute of Mental Health
Awards: G106558557, G1067152967, G1323878664, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) 2024-2029, G3725605721, EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems, G5398773559, Causative mechanisms & integrative models linking early-life-stress to psycho-cardio-metabolic multi-morbidity, G6646479071, BrainHealth - Decoding life course pathways of mental ageing, Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations (CAST), Childhood adversity, DNA methylation, and psychopathology symptoms: A longitudinal study of sensitive periods and chrono-epigenetics
OpenAlex ID: W7154920869