Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Australia.
J Sci Med Sport. 2012 Nov;15(6):505-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2012.03.005. Epub 2012 Apr 11.
To examine urban/rural differences in children's independent mobility; associations between mobility licences and children's independent mobility; and potential correlates of mobility licences.
Cross-sectional study of 430 primary (48% boys; 72% urban) and 258 secondary schoolchildren (52% boys; 51.6% urban) and their parents.
Parents survey reported the mobility licences they granted to their children (e.g. allowing them to cross main roads on their own), access to outdoor playspaces and mobile phone ownership. Children survey reported their independent mobility on school journeys and on weekends. Differences were examined in mobility licences and independent mobility by sex, urban/rural setting and age-group. Regression analyses examined associations between mobility licences and independent mobility; and how access to playspaces, and mobile phone ownership, were associated with mobility licences.
Overall, on average, boys were granted more mobility licences, than were girls, but there were no significant differences by urban/rural location. Variations in independent mobility by urban/rural locality were identified on the school journey but not on weekends. Boys attending urban primary schools had highest rates (44%) of walking/cycling independently to school; those attending rural secondary schools had the lowest (14%). Among urban boys and rural primary school-aged girls access to outdoor playspaces was associated with mobility licences. Mobile phone ownership was associated with mobility licences only among boys attending urban primary schools.
Many Australian children in urban and rural areas lack independent mobility. Further research should examine social/physical environmental influences on parental restrictions, to inform interventions that aim to promote children's independent mobility.
研究儿童独立出行的城乡差异；出行许可证与儿童独立出行之间的关系；以及出行许可证的潜在相关因素。
对 430 名小学生（48%为男生；72%为城市）和 258 名中学生（52%为男生；51.6%为城市）及其家长进行的横断面研究。
家长调查问卷报告了他们授予孩子的出行许可证（例如，允许他们独自穿过主要道路）、户外活动空间的使用情况以及拥有手机的情况。儿童调查问卷报告了他们在上学和周末的独立出行情况。根据性别、城乡背景和年龄组，比较了出行许可证和独立出行的差异。回归分析了出行许可证和独立出行之间的关系；以及户外活动空间的使用情况和手机拥有情况与出行许可证的关系。
总体而言，男孩获得的出行许可证多于女孩，但城乡位置之间没有显著差异。在上学途中发现了城乡位置的独立出行差异，但在周末没有发现。在城市上小学的男孩中，独自步行或骑自行车上学的比例最高（44%）；在农村上中学的男孩中，这一比例最低（14%）。在城市男孩和农村小学年龄的女孩中，户外活动空间的使用与出行许可证有关。手机拥有仅与在城市上小学的男孩的出行许可证有关。
许多澳大利亚城市和农村地区的儿童缺乏独立出行的能力。进一步的研究应该研究社会/物理环境对父母限制的影响，为旨在促进儿童独立出行的干预措施提供信息。
