Development of a systems model to visualise the complexity of children's independent mobility

Abstract

Substantial changes to the built environment, urbanisation patterns, and societal norms have contributed to limiting children's opportunities for being independently mobile. Several linear causal pathway models have been developed to understand the influences on children's independent mobility; however feedback loops between and within the various levels of influence cannot be modelled using such an approach. The purpose of this paper is to refine the interrelationships of factors related to children's independent mobility, taking into account earlier models, broader contextual factors, recent children's geographies literature, and feedback loops. Systems model components were informed by attributes known to influence children's independent mobility, related qualitative findings, and the development of a framework that could lend itself to multilevel modelling approaches. This systems model may provide a useful structure for identifying how best to develop and monitor interventions to halt the declining rates of children's independent mobility.

Keywords:

• children
• conceptual framework
• independent mobility
• urban environment
• well-being

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding

This paper draws on the Kids in the City study, which was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand [grant number 10/497].

This work was supported by the Health Research Council of New Zealand [grant number 10/497]. The authors declare they have no financial interest or benefit arising from direct application of this research.