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Correlates of Children’s Independent Mobility in Canada: A Multi-Site Study

Author

Listed:
  • Negin A. Riazi

    (School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Sébastien Blanchette

    (Département des sciences de l’activité physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada)

  • François Trudeau

    (Département des sciences de l’activité physique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada)

  • Richard Larouche

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada)

  • Mark S. Tremblay

    (Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L1, Canada)

  • Guy Faulkner

    (School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
    Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada)

Abstract

Globally, physical inactivity is a concern, and children’s independent mobility (CIM) may be an important target behavior for addressing the physical inactivity crisis. The aim of this study was to examine correlates of CIM (8–12 years old) in the Canadian context to inform future interventions. CIM was measured via parent surveys. Individual, social, and environmental correlates of CIM were examined using a social–ecological framework. 1699 participants’ data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and gender-stratified linear mixed-effects models while controlling for site, area-level socioeconomic status, and type of urbanization. Individual correlates including child grade ( β = 0.612, p < 0.001), language spoken at home ( β = −0.503, p < 0.001), car ownership ( β = −0.374, p < 0.05), and phone ownership ( β = 0.593, p < 0.001) were associated with CIM. For boys, parental gender ( β = −0.387, p < 0.01) was negatively associated with CIM. Parents’ perceptions of safety and environment were significantly associated with CIM. Location (i.e., site) was significantly associated with CIM (ref: Trois-Rivières; Ottawa ( β = −1.188, p < 0.001); Vancouver ( β = −1.216, p < 0.001)). Suburban environments were negatively associated with boys’ independent mobility ( β = −0.536, p < 0.05), while walkability (400 m β = 0.064, p < 0.05; 1600 m β = −0.059, p < 0.05) was significantly associated with girls’ independent mobility only. Future research and interventions should consider targeting “modifiable factors” like children’s and parents’ perceptions of neighborhood safety and environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Negin A. Riazi & Sébastien Blanchette & François Trudeau & Richard Larouche & Mark S. Tremblay & Guy Faulkner, 2019. "Correlates of Children’s Independent Mobility in Canada: A Multi-Site Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2862-:d:256514
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sylvia Y. He & Genevieve Giuliano, 2017. "Factors affecting children’s journeys to school: a joint escort-mode choice model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 199-224, January.
    2. Kyttä, Marketta & Hirvonen, Jukka & Rudner, Julie & Pirjola, Iiris & Laatikainen, Tiina, 2015. "The last free-range children? Children’s independent mobility in Finland in the 1990s and 2010s," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 1-12.
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    Cited by:

    1. Byoung-Suk Kweon & Woo-Hwa Shin & Christopher D. Ellis, 2023. "School Walk Zone: Identifying Environments That Foster Walking and Biking to School," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, February.
    2. Chelsea A. Pelletier & Katie Cornish & Caroline Sanders, 2021. "Children’s Independent Mobility and Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study with Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Janet Loebach & Marcos Sanches & Julia Jaffe & Tara Elton-Marshall, 2021. "Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-25, March.
    4. Elise Desjardins & Zahra Tavakoli & Antonio Páez & Edward Owen Douglas Waygood, 2022. "Children’s Access to Non-School Destinations by Active or Independent Travel: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Negin A. Riazi & Kelly Wunderlich & Lira Yun & Derek C. Paterson & Guy Faulkner, 2022. "Social-Ecological Correlates of Children’s Independent Mobility: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Longxi Li & Michelle E. Moosbrugger, 2021. "Correlations between Physical Activity Participation and the Environment in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Using Ecological Frameworks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Helen F. Dodd & Lily FitzGibbon & Brooke E. Watson & Rachel J. Nesbit, 2021. "Children’s Play and Independent Mobility in 2020: Results from the British Children’s Play Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    8. Yang Zhou & Meng Wang & Siming Lin & Caiyun Qian, 2022. "Relationship between Children’s Independent Activities and the Built Environment of Outdoor Activity Space in Residential Neighborhoods: A Case Study of Nanjing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-24, August.
    9. Sharon Levi & Orna Baron-Epel & Riki Tesler & Yossi Harel-Fisch, 2022. "Patterns of Active Travel and Physical Activity among Adolescents in Israel," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-14, October.

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