Sandra Mandic
Biographic Data
| ID | 6679466 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sandra Mandic |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sandra |
| FAMILY NAME | Mandic |
| SIGNATURE | MANDIČ S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Otago |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4126-8874 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 22 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 22 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Associations of geospatial measures of greenspace with adolescent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
GPS-measured studies found significant positive links with adolescent MVPA. • Inconsistent results were found in studies measuring estimated greenspace exposure. • Inconsistent associations were found across gender and urbanicity. • Studies examining different subgroups were scarce. • More evidence is needed for adolescents. Greenspace has been linked to adolescent health and well-being outcomes, with physical activity potential pathway for achie…
Energy expenditure of COmmuting to school (Energyco)
Introduction This article outlines the rationale and methodology of the ENERGY expenditure of COmmuting to school study (the ENERGYCO study), a cluster-randomized controlled trial. The ENERGYCO study is divided into two phases: Phase I will aim; to assess the physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) of different modes of commuting to school (i.e., walking, cycling, and motorized-vehicle) using indirect calorimetry in Spanish adolescents; and P…
Physical activity, screen time and dietary behaviours in New Zealand adolescents prior to and following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
Despite observed higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of outside school screen time during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic levels, few adolescents met health behaviour guidelines at both time points. Therefore, comprehensive health promotion that aims to improve physical activity levels, screen time and dietary patterns for adolescents is still necessary to prevent chronic health conditions adulthood
Adolescents’ perceptions of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and their unhealthy snacking behaviour on the way to and from school
Objective: To understand the relationship between adolescents’ unhealthy snacking behaviour during their school journey and their perceived and objective measures of food outlet availability in the school neighbourhood. Design: A cross-sectional survey enquired about socio-demographic information, school transport modes, perceived presence of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and unhealthy food purchase and consumption on the school journe…
Dietary Pattern Indicators among Healthy and Unhealthy Weight Adolescents Residing in Different Contexts across the Otago Region, New Zealand
Reported obesity rates for adolescents in different urban and rural areas are inconsistent. We examined indicators of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns among 1863 adolescents aged 13-18 years with a healthy or excess body weight attending 23 secondary schools in four different settlement types across the Otago region, New Zealand. An online survey included demographics and dietary behaviours. Height and weight were measured, and body mass in…
More-Than-Human
A disconnect between children's ideas and their incorporation into environmental design, in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate crises, compelled us to reflect on children's meaningful participation in positive environmental change. Our research aimed to bring new knowledge to the fore using a participatory, child-centred approach to understanding children's perceptions of health and health-promoting neighbourhoods in Aotearoa New Zeala…
Using Exploratory Spatial Analysis to Understand the Patterns of Adolescents’ Active Transport to School and Contributory Factors
Active transport to school (ATS) is a convenient way for adolescents to reach their recommended daily physical activity levels. Most previous ATS research examined the factors that promote or hinder ATS, but this research has been of a global (i.e., non-spatial), statistical nature. Geographical Information Science (GIS) is widely applied in analysing human activities, focusing on local spatial phenomena, such as distribution, autocorrelation, an…
Adolescents and their aspirations for private car-based transport
The need to transition away from the current car-dominated transport system is well documented in sustainability, health and transportation literatures. Despite growing interest in active and public transport modes, the car still dominates travel preferences for most age groups. There is, however, some evidence of declining preferences for car-based travel for younger generations. In this paper, we use empirical material gathered through a mixed …
A School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Cycling to School in Adolescents
This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol of a school-based randomized controlled trial called "Cycling and Walk to School" (PACO, by its Spanish acronym) that aims to promote cycling to and from school and physical activity (PA) in adolescents. This study will examine the effects of this intervention in cycling and active commuting to and from school (ACS), PA and several ACS-related factors based on self-determination theory (SDT) an…
School Bag-Related Factors and Their Implications for Walking and Cycling to School among New Zealand Adolescents
Excessive school bag weight may be a modifiable barrier to active transport to school. This study examined correlates of school bag weight and adolescents' perceptions of excessive school bag weight for walking and cycling to school among New Zealand adolescents living in diverse settlement types. Adolescents ( n = 1512; 15.0 ± 1.3 years) completed a questionnaire and had their bag weight ( n = 1190) and body weight ( n = 1038) measured. Adolesce…
A Conceptual Framework for Modelling Safe Walking and Cycling Routes to High Schools
Active transport to or from school presents an opportunity for adolescents to engage in daily physical activity. Multiple factors influence whether adolescents actively travel to/from school. Creating safe walking and cycling routes to school is a promising strategy to increase rates of active transport. This article presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for modelling safe walking and cycling routes to high schools. The framework has been…
School Neighbourhood Built Environment Assessment for Adolescents’ Active Transport to School
School neighbourhood built environments (SN-BE) can influence adolescents' active transport to school habits. Typically, SN-BE assessment has involved micro-scale (i.e., environmental audits) or macro-scale (Geographic Information Systems (GIS)) assessment tools. However, existing environmental audits are time/resource-intensive and not specific to school neighbourhoods, while GIS databases are not generally purposed to include micro-scale data. …
Effects of a Nine-Month Physical Activity Intervention on Morphological Characteristics and Motor and Cognitive Skills of Preschool Children
(1) Background: Regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role during early childhood physical and psychological development. This study investigates the effects of a 9-month PA intervention on physiological characteristics and motor and cognitive skills in preschool children. (2) Methods: Preschool children ( n = 132; age 4 to 7 years) attending regular preschool programs were nonrandomly assigned to PA intervention ( n = 66; 60 min sess…
Sociodemographic and Built Environment Associates of Travel to School by Car among New Zealand Adolescents
Travelling to school by car diminishes opportunities for physical activity and contributes to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution. This meta-analysis examined sociodemographic characteristics and built environment associates of travelling to school by car compared to using active transport among New Zealand (NZ) adolescents. Four NZ studies (2163 adolescents) provided data on participants' mode of travel to school, individua…
Active Transport to School and School Neighbourhood Built Environment across Urbanisation Settings in Otago, New Zealand
The school neighbourhood built environment (BE) can facilitate active transport to school (ATS) in adolescents. Most previous studies examining ATS were conducted in large urban centres and focused on BE of home neighbourhoods. This study examined correlations between school-level ATS rates among adolescents, objectively measured school neighbourhood BE features, and adolescents' perceptions of the school route across different urbanisation setti…
Between Privilege and Oppression
The use of active transportation (AT), such as walking, cycling, or even public transit, as a means of transport offers an opportunity to increase youth physical activity and improve health. Despite the well-known benefits of AT, there are environmental and social variables that converge on the AT experiences of low-income youth and youth of color (YOC) that have yet to be fully uncovered. This study uses an intersectional framework, largely focu…
The importance of social capital for young People's active transport and independent mobility in rural Otago, New Zealand
School Bag Weight as a Barrier to Active Transport to School among New Zealand Adolescents
School bag weight was perceived a barrier to ATS and was a greater perceived barrier among users of motorized versus active transport. Perceptions of school bag weights should be considered in future ATS interventions
Physical and spatial assessment of school neighbourhood built environments for active transport to school in adolescents from Dunedin (New Zealand)
A school-based physical activity promotion intervention in children
The PREVIENE Project will provide the information about the effectiveness and implementation of different school-based interventions for physical activity promotion in primary school children
Clustering of (Un)Healthy Behaviors in Adolescents from Dunedin, New Zealand
Few adolescents met recommended health behavior guidelines; yet, two-thirds had a healthy weight. The identified clusters had distinct sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Future interventions should be comprehensive and consider socioeconomic structural factors
Attitudes to food differ between adolescent dieters and non-dieters from Otago, New Zealand, but overall food intake does not
Objective There is increasing pressure for adolescents to be thin and this may not always be acted upon in healthy ways; for example, certain foods or food groups may be restricted or meals skipped. As foods are not eaten in isolation it is useful to examine dietary patterns and associated psychosocial factors to better understand eating behaviour. The aim of the present study was to identify correlates of ‘dieting’ in adolescents from Otago, New…
Attitudes to food differ between adolescent dieters and non-dieters from Otago, New Zealand, but overall food intake does not
Objective There is increasing pressure for adolescents to be thin and this may not always be acted upon in healthy ways; for example, certain foods or food groups may be restricted or meals skipped. As foods are not eaten in isolation it is useful to examine dietary patterns and associated psychosocial factors to better understand eating behaviour. The aim of the present study was to identify correlates of ‘dieting’ in adolescents from Otago, New…
A school-based physical activity promotion intervention in children
The PREVIENE Project will provide the information about the effectiveness and implementation of different school-based interventions for physical activity promotion in primary school children
Clustering of (Un)Healthy Behaviors in Adolescents from Dunedin, New Zealand
Few adolescents met recommended health behavior guidelines; yet, two-thirds had a healthy weight. The identified clusters had distinct sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Future interventions should be comprehensive and consider socioeconomic structural factors
School Bag Weight as a Barrier to Active Transport to School among New Zealand Adolescents
School bag weight was perceived a barrier to ATS and was a greater perceived barrier among users of motorized versus active transport. Perceptions of school bag weights should be considered in future ATS interventions
Physical and spatial assessment of school neighbourhood built environments for active transport to school in adolescents from Dunedin (New Zealand)
Between Privilege and Oppression
The use of active transportation (AT), such as walking, cycling, or even public transit, as a means of transport offers an opportunity to increase youth physical activity and improve health. Despite the well-known benefits of AT, there are environmental and social variables that converge on the AT experiences of low-income youth and youth of color (YOC) that have yet to be fully uncovered. This study uses an intersectional framework, largely focu…
The importance of social capital for young People's active transport and independent mobility in rural Otago, New Zealand
A Conceptual Framework for Modelling Safe Walking and Cycling Routes to High Schools
Active transport to or from school presents an opportunity for adolescents to engage in daily physical activity. Multiple factors influence whether adolescents actively travel to/from school. Creating safe walking and cycling routes to school is a promising strategy to increase rates of active transport. This article presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for modelling safe walking and cycling routes to high schools. The framework has been…
School Neighbourhood Built Environment Assessment for Adolescents’ Active Transport to School
School neighbourhood built environments (SN-BE) can influence adolescents' active transport to school habits. Typically, SN-BE assessment has involved micro-scale (i.e., environmental audits) or macro-scale (Geographic Information Systems (GIS)) assessment tools. However, existing environmental audits are time/resource-intensive and not specific to school neighbourhoods, while GIS databases are not generally purposed to include micro-scale data. …
Effects of a Nine-Month Physical Activity Intervention on Morphological Characteristics and Motor and Cognitive Skills of Preschool Children
(1) Background: Regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role during early childhood physical and psychological development. This study investigates the effects of a 9-month PA intervention on physiological characteristics and motor and cognitive skills in preschool children. (2) Methods: Preschool children ( n = 132; age 4 to 7 years) attending regular preschool programs were nonrandomly assigned to PA intervention ( n = 66; 60 min sess…
Sociodemographic and Built Environment Associates of Travel to School by Car among New Zealand Adolescents
Travelling to school by car diminishes opportunities for physical activity and contributes to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution. This meta-analysis examined sociodemographic characteristics and built environment associates of travelling to school by car compared to using active transport among New Zealand (NZ) adolescents. Four NZ studies (2163 adolescents) provided data on participants' mode of travel to school, individua…
Active Transport to School and School Neighbourhood Built Environment across Urbanisation Settings in Otago, New Zealand
The school neighbourhood built environment (BE) can facilitate active transport to school (ATS) in adolescents. Most previous studies examining ATS were conducted in large urban centres and focused on BE of home neighbourhoods. This study examined correlations between school-level ATS rates among adolescents, objectively measured school neighbourhood BE features, and adolescents' perceptions of the school route across different urbanisation setti…
Using Exploratory Spatial Analysis to Understand the Patterns of Adolescents’ Active Transport to School and Contributory Factors
Active transport to school (ATS) is a convenient way for adolescents to reach their recommended daily physical activity levels. Most previous ATS research examined the factors that promote or hinder ATS, but this research has been of a global (i.e., non-spatial), statistical nature. Geographical Information Science (GIS) is widely applied in analysing human activities, focusing on local spatial phenomena, such as distribution, autocorrelation, an…
Adolescents and their aspirations for private car-based transport
The need to transition away from the current car-dominated transport system is well documented in sustainability, health and transportation literatures. Despite growing interest in active and public transport modes, the car still dominates travel preferences for most age groups. There is, however, some evidence of declining preferences for car-based travel for younger generations. In this paper, we use empirical material gathered through a mixed …
A School-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Promote Cycling to School in Adolescents
This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol of a school-based randomized controlled trial called "Cycling and Walk to School" (PACO, by its Spanish acronym) that aims to promote cycling to and from school and physical activity (PA) in adolescents. This study will examine the effects of this intervention in cycling and active commuting to and from school (ACS), PA and several ACS-related factors based on self-determination theory (SDT) an…
School Bag-Related Factors and Their Implications for Walking and Cycling to School among New Zealand Adolescents
Excessive school bag weight may be a modifiable barrier to active transport to school. This study examined correlates of school bag weight and adolescents' perceptions of excessive school bag weight for walking and cycling to school among New Zealand adolescents living in diverse settlement types. Adolescents ( n = 1512; 15.0 ± 1.3 years) completed a questionnaire and had their bag weight ( n = 1190) and body weight ( n = 1038) measured. Adolesce…
More-Than-Human
A disconnect between children's ideas and their incorporation into environmental design, in the context of rapid urbanisation and climate crises, compelled us to reflect on children's meaningful participation in positive environmental change. Our research aimed to bring new knowledge to the fore using a participatory, child-centred approach to understanding children's perceptions of health and health-promoting neighbourhoods in Aotearoa New Zeala…
Dietary Pattern Indicators among Healthy and Unhealthy Weight Adolescents Residing in Different Contexts across the Otago Region, New Zealand
Reported obesity rates for adolescents in different urban and rural areas are inconsistent. We examined indicators of healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns among 1863 adolescents aged 13-18 years with a healthy or excess body weight attending 23 secondary schools in four different settlement types across the Otago region, New Zealand. An online survey included demographics and dietary behaviours. Height and weight were measured, and body mass in…
Physical activity, screen time and dietary behaviours in New Zealand adolescents prior to and following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic
Despite observed higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of outside school screen time during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic levels, few adolescents met health behaviour guidelines at both time points. Therefore, comprehensive health promotion that aims to improve physical activity levels, screen time and dietary patterns for adolescents is still necessary to prevent chronic health conditions adulthood
Adolescents’ perceptions of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and their unhealthy snacking behaviour on the way to and from school
Objective: To understand the relationship between adolescents’ unhealthy snacking behaviour during their school journey and their perceived and objective measures of food outlet availability in the school neighbourhood. Design: A cross-sectional survey enquired about socio-demographic information, school transport modes, perceived presence of food outlets in the school neighbourhood and unhealthy food purchase and consumption on the school journe…
Energy expenditure of COmmuting to school (Energyco)
Introduction This article outlines the rationale and methodology of the ENERGY expenditure of COmmuting to school study (the ENERGYCO study), a cluster-randomized controlled trial. The ENERGYCO study is divided into two phases: Phase I will aim; to assess the physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) of different modes of commuting to school (i.e., walking, cycling, and motorized-vehicle) using indirect calorimetry in Spanish adolescents; and P…
Associations of geospatial measures of greenspace with adolescent moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
GPS-measured studies found significant positive links with adolescent MVPA. • Inconsistent results were found in studies measuring estimated greenspace exposure. • Inconsistent associations were found across gender and urbanicity. • Studies examining different subgroups were scarce. • More evidence is needed for adolescents. Greenspace has been linked to adolescent health and well-being outcomes, with physical activity potential pathway for achie…
Medicine (16 works) · Geography (14 works) · Psychology (12 works) · Urban Transport and Accessibility (12 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (9 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Traffic and Road Safety (8 works) · Demography (6 works) · Neighbourhood (mathematics (6 works)