Does active travel behaviour moderate the association between the built environment and depression?

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.