Adolescent Travel Patterns: Pilot Data Indicating Distance from Home Varies by Time of Day and Day of Week

Abstract We conducted a pilot study using new technology to track adolescent “place.” Using Global Positioning System (GPS)–enabled cell phones, we recruited and tracked 15 female adolescents for a 1-week period. Distance away from home was greatest in the evenings on weekends or holidays. The greatest percentage of time spent more than 1 kilometer away from home was also during these times. Such GPS technology holds promise for future adolescent health research in allowing more specific and dynamic measurement of where adolescents spend time.