Does the walkability of neighbourhoods affect children's independent mobility, independent of parental, socio-cultural and individual factors?

Abstract

The association between neighbourhood walkability and children's independent mobility using an ecological approach is relatively unexplored. In 2007, 1480 10- to 12-year-old children (and 1314 parents) attending low and high walkable schools across Perth, Western Australia, completed surveys. Objective built environment, social-cultural and individual-level factors were explored. High neighbourhood walkability predicted girls' independent mobility. However, girls and boys were more likely to be independently mobile if they and their parents were confident that they could travel independently. Providing safe, walkable neighbourhoods – particularly for girls – combined with strategies to improve children's skills to safely navigate their neighbourhood may increase independent mobility.

Keywords:

• children
• independent mobility
• walkability
• built environment
• Australia

Acknowledgements

The National Health and Medical Research Council (#403933) funded this project. Walking WA is the industry partner on this project and the input of members of this Committee is gratefully acknowledged, particularly Alice Haning (Department of Transport) who has supported the project from its inception. Spatial data based on information provided by and with the permission of the Western Australian Land Information Authority were used and access to the data provided by the Department of Planning. KV was supported by scholarships provided by an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) and Ad Hoc Scholarships; GT was supported by an APA and the NHMRC Capacity Building Grant (#458668); BGC is supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow Award (#1004900); AT by a VicHealth Public Health Research Fellowship (2004 0536); and GM by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Bisby Postdoctoral Fellowship.