title: Socio-demographic factors and neighbourhood social cohesion influence adults' willingness to grant children greater independent mobility: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In developed countries, children's independent mobility levels are low. Built environmental factors and parental safety concerns are well-known to predict the level of independent mobility adults grant to children. In contrast, the influence of adults' socio-demographic characteristics and neighbourhood social cohesion on children's independent mobility is largely unexplored. This study investigated the influence of adults' socio-demographic factors and neighbourhood social cohesion on distances they would permit children for independent travel and outdoor play.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2013, a random sample of 1293 Australian adults (mean age: 56.1 years, 52 % male, 81 % parents) participated in the Queensland Social Survey (QSS) via computer-assisted telephone interview. Socio-demographic factors measured included age, sex, parental status, education and area-level socio-economic disadvantage. Perceived neighbourhood social cohesion was assessed using a standardised scale. Adults reported the distances children aged 8-12 years should be allowed to walk/cycle to places, and play outdoors without adults. Responses were categorised into 'within sight', < 0.5 kilometres (km) , 0.5-1 km and >1 km. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess associations of socio-demographic factors and neighbourhood social cohesion with distances adults would permit for children's independent travel and outdoor play.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents and adults with lower education were less likely to permit greater distances for children's independent travel (OR 0.57 and OR = 0.59, respectively). Women, parents and adults with lower education were less likely to grant children greater distances for independent outdoor play (OR = 0.61, OR = 0.50 and OR = 0.60, respectively). In contrast, adults with higher perceptions of neighbourhood social cohesion were more likely to permit children greater distances for independent travel (OR = 1.05)and outdoor play (OR = 1.05). Adult age and area-level socio-economic disadvantage were not associated with distances adults would permit for independent travel and outdoor play.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women, parents (particularly those of younger children), adults with lower education and those who perceived neighbourhood social cohesion as being lower were less willing to let children independently travel further away from home. Interventions to increase children's independent mobility may be more effective if targeted to these groups. In addition, increasing neighbourhood social cohesion may help increase adults' willingness to grant children greater independent mobility.
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity Research Group, School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Building 18, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia. s.schoeppe@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schoeppe
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Advanced Technology Centre, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, ATC 315 University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Mitch.Duncan@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Mitch J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, The University of Melbourne, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia. hannah.badland@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Hannah M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Badland
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity Research Group, School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Building 18, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia. s.alley@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alley
authors.affiliation: School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Building 6, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia. s.williams@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity Research Group, School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Building 18, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia. a.rebar@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rebar
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity Research Group, School of Human, Health and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Building 18, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia. c.vandelanotte@cqu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Corneel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vandelanotte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011793:Queensland; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D066270:Social Capital; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors