Does active travel behaviour moderate the association between the built environment and depression?
- 1University of Bath
Abstract
BackgroundBuilt 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.
MethodsIn 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.
ResultsThe built environment factor was positively associated with depressive symptoms ({beta} = 0.023, p = .012). Active travel behaviour was not associated with depressive symptoms ({beta} = -0.002, p = .854) and did not moderate the association between the built environment factor and depressive symptoms ({beta} = -0.002, p = .865), after adjusting for covariates, including age, familial depressive history, socioeconomic risk factors, physical activity, baseline depressive symptoms and smoking.
ConclusionContrary 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 topicO_LISome 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. C_LI
What this study addsO_LIWe tested active travel as a potential modifier of the longitudinal association between the built environment and depressive symptoms. C_LIO_LIWe found no evidence that active travel buffered this association in a sample of mothers. C_LI
How this study might affect research, practice or policyO_LIEngagement 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. C_LI
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BibTeX
@misc{sanders2026does,
title = {{Does active travel behaviour moderate the association between the built environment and depression?}},
author = {F. Sanders and V. Baltramonaityte and L. Whitmarsh and E. Walton},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.08.26364859},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.26364859v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Does active travel behaviour moderate the association between the built environment and depression?
AU - F. Sanders
AU - V. Baltramonaityte
AU - L. Whitmarsh
AU - E. Walton
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/08
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.08.26364859
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.08.26364859v1
AB - BackgroundBuilt 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. MethodsIn 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. ResultsThe built environment factor was positively associated with depressive symptoms ({beta} = 0.023, p = .012). Active travel behaviour was not associated with depressive symptoms ({beta} = -0.002, p = .854) and did not moderate the association between the built environment factor and depressive symptoms ({beta} = -0.002, p = .865), after adjusting for covariates, including age, familial depressive history, socioeconomic risk factors, physical activity, baseline depressive symptoms and smoking. ConclusionContrary 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 topicO_LISome 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. C_LI What this study addsO_LIWe tested active travel as a potential modifier of the longitudinal association between the built environment and depressive symptoms. C_LIO_LIWe found no evidence that active travel buffered this association in a sample of mothers. C_LI How this study might affect research, practice or policyO_LIEngagement 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. C_LI
ER -